Batman stood motionless in the green construct that conveyed him and Black Canary to the west coast, where Star City was located. Batman hated relying on these goons for anything, yet even he had to capitulate to the necessity of the situation. He had programmed the Batmobile to return to Gotham and had put into motion his own means for return. That would have to suffice.
Black Canary glared at the back of Batman's cowl. Granted, they were going into battle, but after working with the other leaguers for a while she was used to the banter of GL or GA, the thoughtful seriousness of the Flash, or even the deep baritone of J'onn discussing what was coming up. But the cold, seeming indifference of Batman was something entirely different. Black Canary had tried several times to engage Batman in conversation during the trip, and every time he had not even shown a sign that he had heard her. Could read Braille indeed.
Wonder Woman flew, still more than slightly flustered. She was the Amazonian champion, and Batman had defeated her with minimal effort. Never again would she underestimate the man. It would be interesting to see how he would perform in battle.
"Listen up," Superman said as they approached the city limits. "We have preliminary reports that make it seem like we are facing Despero. Batman, Wonder Woman, I know you two haven't faced him before, but Despero…….."
"Is an intergalactic despot with the ability to manipulate people through his psychic abilities. Get to the point."
"How did you know that," asked Green Lantern. "We kept Despero out of the press."
"I found out the same way that I found out about your military record," replied Batman. "Carefully. What more are you getting at Superman?"
"Well there are reports that Despero is bigger and stronger than what he was before. Our last encounter was a chess match," Superman stated. "This time, it's going to be full contact."
"Understood. I'll be getting off here," Batman said as he used a yellow Batrang to escape Green Lantern's construct as they flew over the outer limits of Star City.
"What are you doing," Black Canary called after him. "Is he running away" she asked Superman as Batman disappeared in to the city.
"Batman doesn't run. Don't worry. He'll be back," replied Superman. "Let's go to work."
Those that flew touched down in a circle around Despero, while Flash pulled up behind Despero. "By the book," Flash called. "What do you want Despero?"
The three eyed alien looked around the circle. "Seem to be down two since the last we met, with a new female addition. No matter. I will kill her, and hunt down the rest later. You cost me my people, but before they cast me forth, I bathed in the Flame of Pyotr. Before I sought to capture your minds and use you as pawns. This time, I will settle for nothing less than your bodies beneath my feet." Picking up a car he looked to Black Canary. "Die," he yelled throwing the car at the Blonde Bombshell.
The car in flight, Canary uttered a cry to stop the vehicle before Flash could get to her and get her out of the way. The sonic vibrations breached the gas tank and an errant spark ignited it. The resulting explosion knocked Canary and Flash back. Only Flash's quick reflexes saved him from the concussion Canary received as she was slammed up against the wall and knocked out.
"NO," yelled the Crimson Speedster as he rushed up to his teammate's side. "Wake up. Come on Dinah, not like this." This was the last words he uttered, as he was totally blindsided by a laser that came out of Despero's third eye, knocking him back and out.
Wonder Woman and Superman ran at the former alien tyrant side by side. "The laser vision is new," said Superman. "He picked up more than strength. Watch yourself."
"I don't plan to be defensive in this battle," said Wonder Woman. "This ends now." She reared back to punch but was taken out by a green concussive blast. Superman turned to look at his ally and noticed a purple coloration to his eyes.
"Damn it. He kept his old tricks too. He is casting an illusion," Superman murmured. He had to take out Green Lantern if he was going to have any chance to take Despero. Thinking quickly, Superman exhaled knocking Green Lantern to the wall. Hal collapsed, bruised and out, but not dead.
"Perfect," yelled Despero. "I will crush you and make you an example. You are this world's champion. I will take that cape and your head and lay claim to this planet. Your team is down. Your pet Martian," Despero looked around, "nowhere to be found. You will be mine."
Superman filled his eyes with heat vision til they glowed red. "Not today," he uttered as he sped at the demon. Despite seeing Despero's earlier bouts of strength, he was still unprepared for the force of the hit that Despero levied and he flew backward against the pavement. Despero stalked closer to the Kryptonian but held short as a dark shape fell between him and the hero. Slowly but surely, the figure stood, pupiless eyes staring back at the three eyed alien.
"You didn't go through everyone."
"You? I know you," replied Despero. "You are the human who is trying to keep up with the gods. Get out of my way, before I crush you with one blow."
"What are you waiting for," Batman asked. "Hit me."
Despero charged flinging punches and shots at Batman, who evaded them. Superman began to move towards the fight to aid his ally, but quirked his head to the right, as if hearing something far away and held back. Instead he moved towards a regrouped League who was beginning to mobilize.
"How do we take this guy down," whispered Green Lantern. "He has definitely improved since last time we saw him."
"We don't," replied Superman staring at the battle.
"What," asked Wonder Woman. "Batman will be crushed."
"Doubtful," said Superman with a grin.
Suddenly the two combatants leaped backwards. A small trickle of blood went down Despero's face Batman raised his gauntleted hand. The ridges that went down its side had the thinnest layer of blood.
"First blood is mine."
"How did you get beyond the illusions," asked an outraged Despero.
"I closed my eyes. I fought you blind folded."
With snarl of rage he charged Batman and seized his head, staring in to his eyes.
"SUPERMAN, DESPERO IS GOING FOR BATMAN'S MIND," yelled the Flash.
Superman shot out his arm and prevented the others from charging. "Yup. He sure is."
Sweat started to bead from both alien and man as they locked in a struggle from the eyes of all others.
Save one.
The Manhunter floated down to the battle, eyes golden as was his habit when he was using his psychic powers. He too, was straining, and seemed to pale slightly.
Finally, Despero broke the hold, reeling and stumbling from the Bat. "No…enough….no more."
It was then the Batman cried out hoarsely "Now, Superman and Wonder Woman. Together."
The two charged and slammed into Despero in unison, knocking him towards the remainder of the League.
"Canary, scream while he is down." Dinah let loose as Despero tried to get up, blood trickling from his nose. Despero's hands moved to his ears, desperate for refuge so he could regroup. Superman moved toward where Green Lantern and J'onn were hovering.
"Clear your mind Hal, and trust in us," J'onn murmured as he placed his right hand on Hal's head and his left on Kal's. Complex instructions flooded through the earthling's mind, and Hal instinctively used his ring to make the device manifest. .
Batman again cried out, "Clear the area," and Barry grabbed Dinah and they bolted. Despero stared up in confusion at the green device.
"NOW," yelled Batman as the device discharged. Despero raised his hands to protect himself, but to no avail. He phased out, and disappeared.
Silence hung over the scene, as it tends to do in these situations, until Green Lantern broke it.
"What the hell just happened, and what the hell did I just do?"
"We just put Despero in jail…Kryptonian jail that is," replied Superman. "The device you created was a Phantom Zone Projector. Effective…if you can get the person to stand still."
"You planned this," Wonder Woman pointed accusingly at Batman. "From the beginning."
"Yes."
"Why didn't you tell us of your plan?"
"You would have screwed it up. I knew you would go in and throw punches indiscriminately and just try to overpower him. I needed Despero confident and distracted. You did that. I shared my plan with the Martian because I needed his help and because I was relatively confident he could conceal his thoughts from the telepath. You others, could not.
"I knew he would underestimate me, and he would just try to 'pound me into dust.' Then, when that failed, he would go for my mind. And ask the Martian…no one wants to be in my mind. From that point on, it would be a simple matter of keeping him down and building the machine."
"But the projector," asked Green Lantern.
"Your ring is powered by your knowledge and your will. You have the will, but woefully lack any knowledge. The Kryptonian had the knowledge, but can't make it manifest. Use the Martian to bridge the gap, and no problem."
"It is why I do not participate in the banter leading up to the fight," Batman said as he faced the group. "It distracts from the actual strategy."
The majority of the leaguers stood stunned, the exceptions being the "Kryptonian" and the "Martian," or the two beings that understood Batman the best. It was coming together, and in a way that they could never match through their words, Batman had proved to the League why he was necessary.
"Well then," said the Flash, a slow grin coming over his face. "Well done. Batman, I had my doubts, but you lived up to expectations. Green Lantern, if you are ready, take us back to the Harbor."
"That will be unnecessary," Batman responded as a Batwing descended from the clouds. "I have my own means. And I am needed back in Gotham." Shooting a grapple into the sky, without so much as a goodbye, he ascended into the plane and flew off.
Superman, unsurprised (he had superhearing…he heard the radio signal from Bruce's belt the entire time) walked up to the rest of his comrades and said "so we are agreed? Good addition?"
The Flash turned to Superman and kind of quirked his head. "How are you friends again?"
"We aren't friends. He doesn't like me much and doesn't trust me, and I don't like some of his methods. But, then again, he doesn't trust anyone and he doesn't care what I think. So we are able to move past those issues."
"How are we supposed to be on a team with a guy that doesn't trust anyone" asked Green Lantern.
"And, if no one else is going to say it, I will," offered the Flash. "How are we supposed to be on a team with someone who is smarter than all of us, who knows it, and quite frankly thinks we are incompetent."
"Well," Superman slowly replied. "We have fought superpowered elemental giants, intergalactic despots, masked supervillians, and evil robots. I just thought it was time we challenged ourselves."