8
Dawn the next day found the most of the Justice League Unlimited and the Justice League International arrested and detained in the GULAG. General Sam Lane was still infuriated over the mysterious Rip Hunter absconding with Booster Gold, his wife Claire Connelly, and his sister Goldstar away in Hunter's Waverider to an unknown point in history. Lane had his own US Army Meta-Human Response Division on standby should rioting break out inside the GULAG. The general population had usually been put there by the same JLers that were now incarcerated beside the convicts.
"Amanda, this isn't right!" Sue Dibney voiced her opinion with her husband, Ralph, loudly supporting her.
Waller gave Sue and the Elongated Man a dismal look, "We have Presidential orders to stay clear of the legal struggle."
"POTUS isn't unbiased. The JLU attacked him," Col. Steve Trevor reminded her.
"ARGUS and the JLA are ordered to distance themselves from the suspects," Waller did her own reminding, "Other than contribute testimony for both the defense and prosecution, all we can do is report eyewitness testimony to the investigating agencies. The Attorney General has assigned special prosecutors and special defense teams to the case. We have to trust they'll do their jobs to the best of their ability."
"Which you suspect they won't," Sue interjected but Waller refused to comment, "Where the hell is Batman? And why did the Injusticers disappear before the arrests?"
"Saturn Queen was spotted still in our century after Claire's displacement bomb went off," Trevor pointed out, "After she vanished, Booster and Goldstar vanished in that ship and took Claire with them."
"Claire is Booster's wife," Sue said despairingly, "I'm sure she's safe."
"One thing we know for certain is the United Nations won't stand up for the JLI. They disbanded the team and cut everyone loose," Trevor stated, "Then they filed the bulk of the charges."
"The JLI gave the UN a black eye," Waller commented, "I'd do the same if the Justice League of America did the same to the United States."
"You're kidding, right?" Sue was disappointed.
"She wouldn't do it," Trevor promised.
"I can speak for myself, Steve," Waller warned him, "If the JLA became an embarrassment, I'd terminate the program even without a Presidential edict."
"Isn't that reassuring?" Sue sniped.
"Just so we're clear, the JLA will not join in the investigation of Saturn Queen controlling the minds of most of the JLU and JLI," Trevor remarked.
"Our orders stand," Waller declared, "We're to stand aside and look the other way."
Jaina Hudson and White Rabbit joined Batman and Alfred Pennyworth in the Bat Cave. Jaina was greatly relieved he was still strong and vital, "I'm relieved to see yesterday wasn't too taxing despite you vitals being off the charts several times."
"But I'm surprised we got this invite," White Rabbit admitted.
"We're not done yet," Batman warned her, "I need Slade Wilson's contact information."
"What about Nyssa Raatko instead?" Jaina wondered, "Because I'm guessing you're talking about breaking into the GULAG."
Bruce Wayne had always felt an affinity for Jaina. Now Batman knew why. Where Batman and Bruce shared the same mind and body, Jaina and White Rabbit had a similar arrangement only White Rabbit could manifest as a separate physical being. But it was Jaina's trust fund that bankrolled White Rabbit's endeavors just as Bruce funded Batman.
"Nyssa spoke to me before the Injusticers all left for their hidden retreat. She has personal business in Seattle," Batman announced.
Jaina and White Rabbit exchanged a rueful glance. Batman immediately noted the exchange, "I take it you're aware of the nature of this errand."
"It's a delicate matter," Jaina allowed.
"What I intend is a two-person job. Slade is my preferred partner," Batman declared.
"With all the erratic readings your suit detected yesterday what you need is rest," Jaina asserted.
"I need to speak with Superman," Batman insisted.
"No, I do," Kalea announced from the Bat Cave's entrance tunnel.
Even Batman was startled by her sudden appearance, "I suppose your shuttle is cloaked nearby."
"It's resting at the foot of the sea cliffs close to where your aquatic entrance lies," Kalea told him.
"How did you enter?" he wondered.
"Through the aircraft entrance in the cliff face," Kalea answered, "Now, contact this 'Slade' and have him prepare to accompany me to this GULAG place."
"I could come with you right now," Batman offered.
"She's right, your heart rate is erratic and you're experiencing arrhythmia," Kalea warned him.
Jaina shot him a glare. White Rabbit shrugged, "I suppose all the phone lines are clean and untraceable."
"This way, miss," Alfred offered.
"You intend to break Superman out," Batman realized.
"If he'll join me and return to Almerac with me. If not, then I have already deposited vital information towards his defense in the JLA's computers. But I doubt they've discovered that yet," Kalea confessed.
White Rabbit called out to Kalea, "Slade is willing to meet you. If he selects an address, can you find it?"
"I can find any location in this solar system," Kalea promised.
Beryl Hutchinson drove Rose Wilson-Worth to the private airfield on his bike. After stopping next to the plane, Beryl and Rose struggled to say their farewells. Rose made the first comment to this effect.
"It seems we're always saying goodbye just as things get interesting," Rose ruefully remarked.
"You could always switch teams. I doubt your father would make a similar offer to me," Beryl stated.
"No, he wouldn't," Rose admitted, "But he might endorse your offer. Let me think about it before asking him. Until then, we'll reunite when we can."
"That could be a long wait," Beryl complained.
"It's one for me too," Rose confessed.
"Any particular reason you won't jump at my offer?" Beryl asked.
"You know what I do and how I do it," Rose grimaced, "Are the Teen Titans ready for that?"
"We put up with Jason Todd as Red Hood," Beryl reminded her, "He's always going League of Assassins on everybody's asses. And he betrayed the Outsiders and had them all killed."
"So I'm a shoo in," Rose smirked, "I just want both sides of this equation to agree on my switch over first."
"I'll ask my people if you ask your father," Beryl promised.
"Now that's an arrangement I can live with," Rose aggressively kissed Beryl. He replied just as forcefully.
She broke the kiss and grinned, "Sure you don't want to join the mile high club?"
"Later," he replied.
"I may not offer again," Rose warned him.
"I'll take my chances," Beryl replied.
She boarded the plane and hesitated to gingerly wave back at him before entering the plane. He watched it queue up and then take off. Then he donned his helmet and rode his bike back to the Titan's Compound. Life had become very interesting since leaving the Knight and coming to America.
Superman's cell opened to reveal Kal-El sitting under a red sun lamp reading, "Kalea!"
"I'll create a diversion to buy you the time you need," Deathstroke offered her, "But I'm going to the extraction point in five minutes."
"And I'll be there to fly us out of here," Kalea promised.
"Do you trust him?" Superman asked her.
"It's my shuttle so he can't even board it without my permission," Kalea shrugged, "This is about you."
"You want me to leave with you," he realized.
"You have seven billion witnesses who saw you do criminal acts and only the word of a select few to try and present the facts as they really are. After I drop Slade Wilson off, I'm leaving this solar system and returning to Almerac. Come with me."
"But I'm innocent," Superman protested.
"And as stubborn as you are thick headed," Kalea complained.
"I thank you for coming and for everything else, but I have to prove I didn't willingly do any of it," Superman decided.
"I hope you enjoy this cell then," Kalea said despondently, "Because they will lock you inside of it until you die."
She closed the door and it automatically locked. Then she herded Deathstroke into her shuttle. After dropping him off in Boston, she left Earth and set course for Almerac's frontier.
Dinah Drake Lance was exercising inside the Queen estate that Mia Deardon had fully inherited yesterday on her eighteenth birthday. Mia, as the major stockholder in Queen Consolidated, was boring herself silly at a board meeting. Dinah didn't envy her. Their lives as Black Canary and Speedy were a nonstop adrenaline rush. The few pauses in between seemed so trivial.
Dinah's role as Mia's guardian was over. But Mia wouldn't even consider letting Dinah leave. They were each other's family now. Especially when effigies of Green Arrow were beginning to appear next to crooks killed with arrows. But the tips were heart shaped.
No witnesses had come forward and the police had nothing on file. The Homicide Division of Seattle's Police Department had taken to killing the perp "Cupid". A moniker which had leaked to the newspapers and blogs and now the entire city and the surrounding Puget Sound area was talking about the mysterious Cupid and his or her connection to Green Arrow.
While Dinah beat up training posts, a butler arrived to tell her she had company. Toweling off the sweat as best she could she was escorted to the drawing room. To her everlasting surprise, Nyssa Raatko waited for her in civilian clothes. Dinah had never seen Nyssa dress down. She had to admit Ra's al Ghul's daughter was a beauty.
Pens and paper were discreetly located in every room for Dinah's use. She had just started learning sign language but she rarely had time for lessons in between JLA missions. She succinctly asked Nyssa what she was doing at the estate with a note.
"It's simple, Dinah," Nyssa wore a glowing smile, "How would you like to be able to speak again? You'd even recover your Canary Cry."
Dinah wrote another note asking what it would cost her. Nyssa shook her head, "You misunderstand. This gift comes without a price. I just can't stand the idea of you being hurt in any way."
Dinah gave her a questioning raise of an eyebrow. Nyssa looked embarrassed, "I'm just a fan. An admirer really. I just want to help you in your hour of need. Will you let me?"
Dinah's next note simply asked Nyssa to tell her more. So Ra's al Ghul's other daughter proceeded to do so.
The Crime Syndicate was alarmed when Brother Eye detected Saturn Queen entering their hidden location. Her plea was simple, "I can help you in your planned conquest of this Earth. I can also assist you in taking over your native Earth-3. All I ask in return is access to temporal technology as it comes available. I just want to go home."
"How would you suggest we begin?" Owlman asked on the Crime Syndicate's behalf.
"Deal with Luthor first. Get close to him and ultimately betray him. Set Grodd on the Legion's throne and he will assist you in your own ambitions to retake control of Earth-3. Once that is accomplished, you can collaborate to conquer any Earth from there. I recommend Earth-2 as a starting ground because their planet has been devastated."
"Alfred will maintain his post as the Other. With the aid of Brother Eye, you and Alfred will compose a new Secret Society of Super Villains to ostensibly rival the Legion of Doom. But in truth they will all be programmed to serve us and they will act as cannon fodder while we parlay our position within the Legion and eliminate Luthor. Killing any Luthor from any Earth is always a pleasure," Owlman decided to cheers from the other Crime Syndicate members.
"And you'll earn Luthor's trust by delivering a Justice League to him," Saturn Queen predicted.
The next day, the JLU and JLI suspects were arraigned before a US Superior Court. They were remanded to the custody of the World Court who'd assumed jurisdiction. Returned to the GULAG, they learned the Hague intended to charge them all universally with dozens of counts of crimes against humanity, terrorism, property destruction, and kidnapping.
Selina Kyle opened her door, "Why, Col. Trevor. You're precisely on time."
"Hello Selina, I'm sorry I couldn't meet with you when your team returned to the States," Trevor apologized.
"You've been understandably busy," she ruefully conceded, "But why do I think this isn't a social call?"
"Because you're right," Trevor regretted to inform her, "I need you to look into some matters."
"Wouldn't the Question and Ralph be better choices?" Selina wondered.
"They're too visible," Trevor told her, "Whereas you and Kitrina aren't even officially members of the JLA."
"You want us to find out what the prosecution is holding on the JLU and the JLI," Selina guessed, "Because the JLA is forbidden from investigating events themselves."
"I also need you to deliver evidence Kalea left for us to the defense," Trevor told her, "As well as determine whether or not the defense has agreed to take a dive."
"I'll agree in exchange for a little information," Selina countered.
"Selina," Trevor growled.
"It's a simple question," Selina promised.
"Shoot," Trevor conceded.
"Why did Rocki Ballantine agree to become Batwoman again when Kathy Duquesne is already in uniform an don the team?" Selina succinctly asked.
Trevor groaned and then shared the truth.
"Red!" Harleen Quinzel leapt out of her apartment door to embrace Poison Ivy.
"It's okay, Harl. I told you if it was safe I'd join you," Ivy reminded her.
"Ya mean Bats is dead?" Harley Quinn asked.
"No, but he always knew you were alive. And he didn't care," Ivy promised her, "So I'm here so we can finally be together."
"Yay!" Harley cheered but Ivy could see a hint of reticence in her eyes. The same reticence that had positioned the Joker in their relationship. So Ivy took it to mean Harley was involved with a new man. But Ivy didn't care anymore. She was used to sharing. And it meant she could finally just settle down with the woman she loved.
Much delayed after thought: Thanks again go to the readers that enjoyed this effort. And thanks also go to those that just tried it out. Extra kudos go to you if you read the entire work rather than just Chapters 1 & 27.
I've developed a loyal base over the years and extra thanks go out to those multiyear readers. My first work on FanFic was the first installment in this series. It answered a very simple question that I had: could I write in the DCAU/DCU realm? After I modest but positive answer I then developed that "plan" that incorporates 32 installments to this larger overarching story with plans for smaller scaled inserts between the series Parts 1-32. And even beyond as in Batman Beyond JLU.
Over the course of the years, I began this in 2010, I had another question. Could I sell some of my work? I took an 18 month break in the development of Part 17 and sold 46 short stories and novellas. Having answered that question and now earning a monthly income from royalties, I returned to finish this series.
Throughout the series beginning with Part 7, my beta reader, ShiyaHawk, has proofread each individual chapter and she frequently gives me a "first read" response which indicates how many people may react to each chapter. Other than clean up messy grammar, we don't collaborate. One poor benighted soul who had a vendetta against her own writing attacked me just because she was my beta and I greatly appreciate the efforts she puts forth on my behalf. She doesn't get paid for it. It's strictly voluntary. So, if you ever get a wild hair, write her a thank you PM.
I've already written two chapters of Part 21 and am working on a third. So the series continues!