I decided to use "Lord" as the title for a King under God in order to avoid confusion with the one true King.

The company of five were all seated around a campfire in a forest. Robin was off getting firewood and Artemis was cooking some stew. She'd had a lot of experience fending for herself and as a result was making supper. They talked as they waited for both the firewood and the stew.

"So, Rein, David, what was your town like?"

"Oh, it was small, not very noticeable. My family had come with a mission's trip to set up a church there and a lot of the people were converted. My dad was in charge of the youth and my mother helped by cleaning the center."

"Yeah, Daddy always had something nice to teach us when we went to Sunday school."

"Visitors often came through to stay at the center on the way to other parts of the world that needed preaching too. Some spoke in front of the church."

"Can you remember one of the lessons?"

"Well, my daddy was going to tell us about Lord David but then the . . ."

He didn't even need to finish the sentence; Artemis hung her head as she felt shame. Silently she prayed to the King to forgive her, even though she'd already done so.

Fortunately, Rein noticed this and jumped on Artemis's back.

"Don't feel bad Auntie Arty, Jesus forgave you already, you shouldn't blame yourself anymore."

Artemis smiled in spite of herself. Then Robin brought back some firewood and fed the fire.

"I wonder" David said quietly. Unfortunately Rein heard him and asked loudly "what David?"

Everyone turned to look at David who flushed at being suddenly the center of attention.

"It's nothing, I'll deal with it, it's my problem" he mumbled.

Megan smiled kindly "we want to know if something's bothering you David, after all, we're all brothers and sisters now!"

"Yeah, I want to help you."

David thought a minute or so and then said "okay, I'm feeling kind of useless."

Rein's face was the picture of confusion "why David? With me we've been able to do-"

"Exactly, with you!" David exclaimed "I'm the older brother, I'm supposed to protect you . . . and . . . well . . . I feel kind of . . . inadequate."

"Why!"

"Because I haven't been able to do squat, any work given by the spirit I was always the tag-along. I feel like the King doesn't want me to do his works!"

"Now David, you know that's not true!"

"Maybe" David remarked, and then he yawned and said "I think I'll turn in for the night. See you guys in the morning."

David rolled out his sleeping bag and went to sleep. He wondered how his namesake, King David had done it. How had David been so good and had been used by God so greatly.

Then he fell asleep and the rest soon followed suit.

Kobra grinned as he walked into the cavern. Suddenly two figures robed in shadows dropped from the ceiling and held out knives towards him. Then the recognized him and led him through the passageways that led to their leaders hall. Kobra enjoyed coming here; it was nice to know that he could get these people to work for him. It gave him a feeling of superiority. He couldn't wait until Lucifer gave him authority over the entire world as his vassal.

He entered the main room which was hidden in darkness for the most part. Steps at the end of the room led up to a dais but that was also completely shrouded in darkness. Kobra stopped and crossed his arms.

Then a voice came from the dark dais "what brings General Kobra to the League of Shadows. What service could he expect of our humble group?"

"Lord Lucifer dispatched me on a mission to destroy 4 Citizen's as well as a traitor. I require use of some of your forces."

"But of course, we are only too happy to provide you with use of our services. Use whatever you wish to destroy these monstrosities."

"Do you have a recommendation?"

There was silence as the man in the shadows thought, then he clapped his hands and several figures dropped from the ceiling. One of them had a large hook and chain grafted onto one of his arms; the other was dressed in a skin-tight suit. But the obvious leader had a large mask on her head that resembled a mad grin.

"Cheshire here and her company have just passed our tests with flying colors and is eager for blood. Use her to hunt down and destroy these citizens for as long as you wish."

Kobra smiled and nodded.

Cheshire bowed and said in an awed voice "my mind and body are yours to use General Kobra. I am honored to be in the service of our merciful Lord Lucifer."

Kobra smirked as he looked down at the group of three, they would serve him perfectly.

Even though David had gone to sleep, that didn't mean the Spirit couldn't work in his heart. David suddenly found himself in . . . whiteness. He stood up and wondered where he was, a thin mist seemed to cling to the ground.

"Where am I?" he wondered aloud.

Then someone appeared and David jerked. The man had a youthful look on his face, he was handsome and well-built, but also he had a very noble and righteous look on his face.

"Who are you?"

"My name is just like yours, my name is David."

"Wait . . . are you . . . you know?

The man smiled "yes, I am the same Lord David of whom you read about in the King's holy book."

David stood in awe at seeing one of the greatest heroes of the Old Testament standing before him. But then he asked "but why did you come to see me, I'm not like you, the King isn't using me very mightily."

Lord David simply smiled; David could tell he seemed to understand something.

"How? How did you do it? How and why did the King use you so mightily?"

"I could show you my life, and show you why I was made a King."

David's eye's widened and a grin spread across his face "yes, please yes."

"Are you sure? Some of it isn't pleasant."

"Yes, I want to. Please show me!"

Suddenly David was standing in the midst of a large throne room and he saw a lord, not Lord David mind you, but a lord talking to a man in robes.

"What message does the lord have for me Samuel?"

"Lord Saul. The King decrees that the Amalekites will mock him no longer. They are an evil people and have too long lived in his sight. Settle accounts with them and destroy them. Every single one of them. Do not stop with the humans but also kill every animal in their lands, every last one."

Lord Saul stood up "I shall do as you have said.

David was confused at how this pertained to David, he'd forgotten some of the historical facts but suddenly he was sitting inside King Saul's tent. He looked outside, apparently nobody could see him as this had already happened, and saw signs that a great battle had taken place. Obviously Saul had killed the Amalekites. But something was wrong; off in the distance David could hear many animals.

Then he saw Samuel hurrying over to the tent, he had obviously only just gotten there and by the look on his face he was extremely upset.

Samuel entered the tent and said in an angry voice "what is this I hear, the bleating of sheep and the mooing of cows. Why have you disobeyed the King?"

Saul turned and looked a bit nervous as he tried to justify himself "I did disobey the order to kill all the animals but I had an idea as I was about to order my men to destroy them, what if I was to use them as a sacrifice to the King?"

Samuel shook his head "which doest the King desire more, obedience, or sacrifices. God now regrets to have ever made you Lord over Israel Saul."

The scene once again changed and David saw Samuel walking into a small house. He was greeted enthusiastically by a father who's name was Jesse. The name stirred something in the back of David's memory but he disregarded it in order to take in the scene.

Jesse prepared supper for the Prophet of the King but Samuel said "now, before I partake of any of the food from your table I must see your son's for the Lord has commanded me to do thus."

Jesse went and got his first son, Eliab. Eliab was tall and strong and looked as if he could be a King. But Samuel debated a bit but then said "he is not the one."

Next came in Abinidab, the next born son but Samuel dismissed him as well. He did so to all the son's present until none was left. Then he asked "surely, is this all the son's you have?"

"Well" said Jesse hesitantly "there is the youngest, David. He is out with the flocks of sheep but he is just a boy."

"Send for him immediately, I must see him!"

David, who had been jarred greatly by the name, watched in awe as the vision-David approached Samuel. David recognized the boy as the man who was Lord David.

The vision-David approached Samuel who, after a few moments, smiled widely and said "come, I must anoint you with oil boy."

Samuel anointed David with oil and proclaimed "you are chosen by the King to be the Lord of Israel and to be his handpicked servant."

Once again the scene shifted and now David was standing in a plain between two encampments, on one side he could recognize the Israelites, he even saw some of the brothers of King David in the ranks. On the other side though was another nation's camp.

Then the ground began shaking and David watched as a monstrosity of a man appeared from the enemy camp. The man was unlike anything David had ever seen, he was 9 feet tall, his head would've easily broken through the roof of his house. He was also dressed in armor that was made proportionately for him. He had a shield-bearer that carried his weapons out in front.

David remembered the giant's name, Goliath. His armor was said to weigh 125 pounds and yet he strutted with ease. Even though David was only there in spirit and no harm could come to him he still felt like running away in terror at the brutish face that snarled and smirked at the Israelites. David looked at the Israelite side, waiting for them to charge, shouting praises to the King.

Bu the men all were backing up, fear evident on their faces as Goliath began taunting them

"IS THERE NONE AMONG YOU WHO IS STRONG ENOUGH TO FACE ME. FOR 40 DAYS I HAVE CHALLENGED YOU AND YOU ARE TOO COWARDLY TO COME AND FACE ME. THE KING THAT THE ISRAELITES WORSHIP IS POWERLESS TO STOP ME!"

Then David saw someone, a boy in simple garments, walking down from the Israelites. Then with a shock he recognized him as Lord David. Goliath saw this and looked extremely insulted.

"AM I A DOG THAT YOU COME AT ME WITH A STICK AND STONES?"

Lord David was readying his sling but he replied "YOU COME TO ME WITH A SWORD A SPEAR AND A JAVELIN. BUT I COME TO YOU IN THE NAME OF THE KING WHOM YOU DEFY. TODAY THE KING SHALL TAKE YOUR LIFE AND SHALL GIVE THE LIVES OF THE PHILISTINES INTO THE HANDS OF ISRAEL!"

Goliath had heard enough and moved to attack. He drew his sword, which in itself could've been as tall as David. Lord David loaded his sling with a stone and began twirling it above his head. Goliath charged, yelling and shouting terrible blasphemies that made David as he watched the scene cover his ears. Then Lord David let the stone fly and it flew straight and true. It slammed into Goliath's forehead and Goliath gave a great howl. Then he pitched forward and fell on his face.

Lord David walked over and picked up Goliath's sword. With one stroke he severed the head of Goliath from the body. David heard the Philistines cry out in terror as they saw their champion, there ace in the hole fall. The Philistines turned to flee but the armies of Israel charged with a speed and strength David was amazed at.

Then he was back in the white misty area and there was Lord David standing beside him. Now that he was back, David wondered what he was supposed to have learned.

"I don't get it. I still don't know why the King chose to use you so mightily."

"David, when you thought of Artemis, did you ever consult the Spirit on her."

". . . no."

"How much have you sought the King's spirit recently?"

". . . not as much as I should have."

"The reason the King used me to do such great things is because I walked closely with him. I referred to him when I did things and I trusted in him to deliver Goliath into my hands. The King wants to use you, you merely have to ask him what and let him use you thus."

David thought about it, it made sense. He then resolved to confer more with the spirit on things.

"Now" said Lord David "the King would like for you to do something for you right now. Will you do it?"

"Yes" David said without any hesitation.

"Then tell the others that you must leave immediately, if they don't follow you must go on towards Gotham alone."

David woke up. It was still nighttime but it was moving towards dawn. Remembering what he'd been told to do he started waking the others. Soon they were all up and yawning but they weren't very happy with him waking them up.

"Alright so what's this all about" asked Artemis as she rubbed her eyes."

"The King gave me a message, we need to leave now!"

"Why?"

"He just said to. If you don't leave, I'll have to go alone."

The people looked curiously at him. Then Megan said "I'll go with you."

Soon they all agreed and they packed up camp and once again started down the road.

They had walked for about half and hour and were nearing a large rocky pathway in between two small mountains when suddenly Artemis froze and the other hear her sniffing loudly.

"What's the matter Auntie Arty?"

"I know that smell" Artemis said to herself.

"What smell?"

"Fire."

All their eyes widened and they hurried into the pathway. Once they were high up enough they turned around and saw with great surpise that the small forest they'd been in was lit on fire. While the fire would only last as long as there was more forest to burn it could've undoubtedly killed them.

"See David, the King uses you!"

David smiled as a feeling of contenment washed over him "I know Rein . . . I know."

Kobra cursed under his breath. Somehow they had been aware of him setting fire to the forest. Well no matter, he could still find many more devious ways to silence them. They would never escape him, even if he had to tear them apart. One . . . by . . . one.

I hope this wasn't confusing. I hope you like it. Probably get to Gotham training center next chapter.