"So, while I went home to Themyscira, you recruited a man, a mortal man, with no special powers or abilities, to join us. It took the entirety of the League, except for Superman, the mightiest among you, because of some sort of fear he has for this … mortal … man." Wonder Woman leaned back and stared up to the ceiling of the cave. "Is this a joke? What is the punchline?"
Black Canary shook her head. It had been two weeks since the League encountered her, and Dinah and Superman had been busy trying to recruit her. Why only those two? Because they were the only ones that Wonder Woman could talk to without insulting the "world of men." Dinah because she was a "sister," and Clark because, well, he is Superman.
"Its no joke Diana. This Batman is the real deal. Some of the things I have seen him do…….."
"I am sure that in comparison to those other weak men, he is impressive," interrupted Diana. "But this League is meant to face more powerful threats, is it not? I do not think this Batman's ability to stop 'purse snatchers' will be of value to the League, do you?"
The men gathered around the table (Lantern, Flash, Manhunter, Superman, and Snapper Carr, handyman and the League's techno wiz) away from the ladies' conversation sighed. Allowances had to be made for the Princess; she was royalty, after all, and she had been raised on a deserted island away from all men. But it could get tiresome. Was it arrogance, naivete, or something else? They couldn't tell. But they did know she had a right hook like a freight train and could move quick enough to block bullets. And if there was a choice, better she was on the team, then off of it. So the gentlemen at the table normally allowed her to talk.
Unfortunately for Diana, Princess of Themyscira, those gentlemen were not the only ones in the room. In a dark corner of the cave, two white slits narrowed.
A second before it happened, Superman's ears perked up. He knew that sound. And then he thought something that would have made Ma Kent blush.
The power kicked off and the door to the cave slammed shut. Total darkness covered the cave. "Snapper," yelled the Flash. "What happened?" Before the man could answer a voice came out of the darkness.
"It wasn't the boy."
Suddenly the computers kicked on, each screen bearing a bat insignia. "I hacked your computers before I even left my headquarters. I did it in 2 and a half minutes. I evaded your security, without help, in 5. This place has some of the most dangerous weapons on the planet in it, and you have the worst security I have ever seen. Pathetic."
"Show yourself coward, and I will show you pathetic," yelled Wonder Woman. "Or can you only cower in the shadows?"
Suddenly a bright light kicked on, and Batman stood in the center of the room, having evaded detection. He said nothing, and made no movement, and his cape covered his entire body. The Flash made a move to approach the Bat, but Superman blocked him. Manhunter sent a brief mental image to all of the current Justice Leaguers of two birds. And a stone.
Wonder Woman readied herself, and began to circle that Caped Crusader. Who in turn did nothing. Wonder Woman began to feel anger fill her; despite her warrior training, when the lights cut out, and the voice came out of the darkness she had felt a little…disconcerted. For that moment of uncertainty, Diana wanted to repay this dark man in full. She charged.
And he…….moved.
Using the cape to distract, he leapt over the Princess and landed behind her. She slammed on the brakes, which was what Batman counted on. All of her weight was on her knees, which were locked. Not for long. Batman kicked out with his right leg, while his left hand, already holding the grapple, shot out a cord, ensnaring the golden lasso at the woman's side. As Wonder Woman fell forward, the lasso moved back, into the Gothamite's waiting hands. Wonder Woman quickly leapt up, not noticing what she was missing. Anger shot through her, as she blindly charged. The Kryptonian might have beaten her once. NO HUMAN MAN WAS GOING TO BEAT HER THOUGH.
She shot her fist forward connecting with nothing, but was ensnared by something. Her eyes widened as she noticed its color. Gold. Before she could think, her right arm was brought up painfully over her head, as two feet planted themselves on her back, driving her down. Before she could comprehend what was going on, she felt rope binding her feet, to her hand, all behind her back.
And there she lay, the Princess of Themyscira, Strongest Warrior of the Amazons, Wonder Woman, trussed up like a Thanksgiving Turkey.
"Legend has it that once an Amazon is bound by a man, she is powerless, and must abide by his wishes. Is that true," asked Batman, oblivious to the gaping crowd behind him.
"Yes," gritted the Amazon.
"Good," Batman said, walking away. "You can stay there for now."
The Dark Knight walked up to the Metropolis Marvel and stared at him eye to eye. The Alien did not flinch. "You know, if someone else had done that to me, I would make his life a living hell. I still might for you."
"If you were anyone else," replied Superman, "it wouldn't have been necessary."
Batman grunted, and turned to Flash. "I did not just hack your files for fun. If you go to a terminal, you will find that I…supplemented your files with my own."
Barry Allen moved quickly to the computer, and began searching. His eyes widened slightly as he saw that the files seemingly had doubled. He moved to one of the files about Captain Cold, and his eyes bulged after reading it.
"How do you know all this," Barry said whirling on the Bat. "Captain Cold works primarily in Central City. He has never been to Gotham. How could you know this?"
"Actually," Batman replied, "he has been to Gotham on three occasions…he just did not break the law while in my city, so we have never……..met face to face. But I presumed that there was a possibility that criminals from other cities could come to Gotham. So I prepared."
Superman had wandered over to another terminal, and had reviewed a file of John Corbin, or Metallo. He was not surprised that Bruce's knowledge on "Superman's villain" exceeded his own. It was just reinforcing Clark's opinion that Bruce NEEDED to be on this team.
"Before I was hesitant to join this team because I thought you were careless," continued Batman. "Now I don't want to join your team because I KNOW you are careless…and ignorant as well. I have reviewed the footage of your past fights, and your victories are the product of luck, your high degree of powers and your enemies having a lack of coordination. The next time you go up against someone with comparable power, who is prepared, and you lose."
"We have had some victories against serious opponents you know," replied the Flash, his patience beginning to wear thin.
"The Appellexations. Yes, I was there. You won after the other side gave you the weapon you beat them with," Batman replied flatly. "Outstanding."
"What do you want Batman," said Superman.
"A promise," Batman said. "If I join this team there needs to be a certain level of dedication to the team's goals and a new dedication to training."
"I think," Hal Jordan, "we have demonstrated dedication and training. I spent weeks on Oa learning how to use this ring. I can use it just as well as any ring slinger ever. In most cases better."
"That's great," said Batman. "You know how those that came before you use this power. But based on my research the Guardians are rather…dated in their practices. Have you considered other methods and strategies in using your power? It is limited only by your imagination, correct? Have you talked to Allen about alternative uses? He is a scientist; he might have a perspective on your power that could open up new possibilities that even the vaunted Guardians haven't considered. No, you haven't. You have been too busy walking red carpets and receiving awards.
"Or for that matter, have you considered what might happen if you are captured and have your ring taken from you? What you would do if you had to escape without your power? Of course not. This is what I mean. You don't try to develop all of your skills. Just the most powerful one."
While Hal looked thoughtful, Black Canary tried to push forward. "Maybe you are right with developing our powers, although I still think we have done more good in our 'sloppy' way than you have with your anal retentive method. But why should we focus on developing other things? It would be like accusing you that you are over reliant on your sight because you did not learn braile."
Superman started shaking his head knowing the inevitable answer. "Of course I can read braile," Batman said, with scorn in his voice. "What is the point of this team if you can't learn with each other?"
Snapper seemed to have found his voice and responded with, "I dunno. Saving the world seems like a pretty good mission statement."
"It would…to you." Batman said. "But you have no strategy outside of 'let's see what happens.' You are entirely reactive, and you don't prepare. And one of these days its going to get one of you killed. And I am not interested in dying."
"Then what do you want," asked Superman. "We know you aren't here for your health, and just to see the cave. You have demands and an interest in the Justice League. Get it out in the open."
Batman stared at him. "Fine. I train you. I join you in your little adventures when I have time and so long as Gotham does not suffer. I do not want leadership or command, but I will not suffer fools.
"I know that you have shared your other identities with each other and some of you," Batman glared at the Martian Manhunter, "know my identity already. I have no confidence in your ability to keep my secret. When you earn it, or learn it which I find incredibly unlikely, my other identity will be revealed.
"I am not interested in being friends or seeing any of you socially outside of this place. Our goal should be this; to protect the world from overt, superpowered harm. We are to anticipate our weaknesses, as well as our strengths, and train ourselves so that our abilities are not used against those we are meant to protect. We are not to interfere in anyway with the choices they make. No interference in wars or political events. Any deviation from these goals, and I am gone. A serious breach, and I will do everything in my power to see this group destroyed. Those are my terms."
"Now wait just a minute," Flash began.
"Agreed," rushed Martian Manhunter restraining Allen. "Whats our first step?"
Before he could answer, a klaxon went off in warning. Flash rushed over to the computer terminal and said, "there is a problem in Star City."
Batman headed towards the trussed up Amazon. "Well then. Let's see how this works." Turning his attention to the Princess he asked "do you promise to be good? And not to attack me during the battle?" She nodded. Batman untied her and said, "let's go."