That fateful day started like any other, but things have a way of taking a dark turn with the league.
"Superman, Shayera, Wonder Woman, Green Lantern, Flash, report to the bridge." J'onn's voice is booming on every corner of the watch tower. "We have a high-level priority situation. I repeat, high-level priority."
They converge on the Martian who continues to bark orders, "Amazo, Doctor Fate, Booster Gold, Captain Atom, Stargirl and STRIPE," J'onn pauses, multitasking with the controls in front of him, "You will serve as second defense."
"Where's the Bats?" Flash looks around.
"Batman is not here. I am calling his comm link now," J'onn's stoic face beguiles his worry. "Fire, Ice, Hawk and Dove, Black Canary, Zattana, Vixen, Green Arrow, Elongated Man. Third defense. Take the Javelin," J'onn's voice still booms on the speakers.
"Why the second and third defense J'onn?" Superman crosses his arms.
"What's with the high-level priority?" Shayera interjects, looks at Diana for answers but she has none.
"I will be going with Superman's group. The rest of you await further instructions from Mr. Terrific who will take over for me," J'onn finishes, ignoring the long overdue questions. He briefly scans their faces before addressing Superman, "Darkseid has returned."
Deliberately or not, the Martian's jaw-dropping revelation was broadcasted over the speakers. They're all shaken by the news; frozen expression of shock and disbelief, on every face present.
"How is that possible? Didn't he die alongside Luthor with the Anti-Life Equation?" Green Lantern asks.
"We saw them disappear, not die." Superman answers for the Martian Manhunter.
J'onn lets the question hang, "Wait, there is someone on the line. From Themyscira." The superheroes turn to the screen where Queen Hippolyta appears on the feed.
"Diana," Hippolyta speaks in a commanding voice tinged with urgency. "We need you in Themyscira. Come as soon as you are able. Do not delay."
"Mother, are you all right?" Diana talks directly at the screen.
"I am unharmed. But I cannot say the same for our sisters, not for long." The video turns to static before Diana can reply.
"I have to go." Diana looked at Shayera.
"But we need you here." Shayera surprises John Stewart with the statement. The Flash watched Diana. Superman looked at Flash, then Diana and Shayera.
"This is true. We need all the the fire power we can get, Diana." J'onn agrees with Shayera's sentiment.
"You have plenty here to go around. My people have only me to defend them." Diana rebuts.
"How do you know Darkseid has returned? Or that he's coming to earth?" Superman asked J'onn.
"I heard thoughts coming from Grodd. He is working for Darkseid and in return, he promised to spare Gorilla City and put him in charge," J'onn continues, "I have been keeping tabs on all the major villains' thoughts. Tracking their mental signatures, we all have it. It's something that I have been practicing."
"It's invasive, I know." J'onn gets a little defensive when he sees hints of fear and alarm creep on their faces, "I was thinking it could help us during times like this."
The others were all thinking the same thing, when did the Martian become so powerful? And J'onn can hear all of it, and then some. There were also some remnants of naked images of Shayera.