Oracle and the Network
5.0 Interlude & Updates
The Justice League of America met in the new Watchtower, a satellite orbiting high above the Earth, connected to the Hall of Justice and other bases through a series of teleportational doors. Dinah Lance aka Black Canary was the current leader, and the black clad, athletic blond looked over the group seriously.
"We've gotten an update from Oracle on Intergang activity," Dinah said, feeling uncomfortable discussing her former team even though she kept it off her voice and expression, "they're hawking a new narcotic, a powerful upper that leaves the user nearly insanely violent once they crash."
Batman spoke up calmly, "The Outsiders followed up on a tip and found a similar lab in Gotham, along with a arsenal like the one in Metropolis." He didn't mention that he had several friends checking others towns, deciding that what the JLA didn't know wouldn't hurt them.
Superman nodded as he casually told them, "I found another base like it in Kansas City while I was passing through." He didn't mention that he had passed through visiting his parents in Smallville, because his teammates didn't need to know.
Black Canary suggested, "I think we should spread the word via our allies, search every major city if we can."
"It makes sense," Geo-Force nodded.
"Why not just rely on Oracle to do it?" Hawkgirl asked, Kendra leaning up casually against the round meeting table.
"She likely is notifying other heroes," Black Canary answered patiently, "but I think we need to make sure."
"Will do," Firestorm nodded, the young hero nodding vigorously. He was the second hero to become Firestorm, and was a member of the team because Batman didn't trust letting him run around on his own. Not that the rest of the JLA minded him joining, but most of them did think it was a bit high-handed of Batman...
"Oracle is as sharp as ever," Vixen agreed. The young woman had been part of the Birds of Prey in the past, and had recently received a invite to join her new Network as well. It was a invitation she was seriously thinking of accepting, her only worry being it might conflict with her JLA duties.
"If we have no further business I would like to go," Red Tornado said calmly, the red clad android's cape fluttering, "I wish to ensure my wide and daughter's home town in safe."
"Meeting adjourned," Black Canary nodded, the heroes filing out to teleport away or taking off under their own power.
Wonder Woman walked over to where Black Canary stood and gently touched her arm. "You are troubled, sister," she noted quietly.
"I should have guessed you could tell," Dinah conceded as they walked out of the meeting room together. Out in the hallway she sighed quietly, "I just... it feels like there's unresolved stuff between me and Oracle."
Princess Diana smiled gently as they stood by the view port, gazing at the Earth turning below them. "I though you parted on good terms?" she asked.
"We did," Dinah nodded, "but I left the group to raise my daughter, or at least that was what I had planned to do..."
Diana nodded, "I understand."
Dinah had adopted a child, a little girl named Sin who was meant to be a future Shiva, a super-assassin. Sin had been targeted by the League of Assassins, and while Dinah had done her best to save the child Sin was slain by the League. In the aftermath of that chaos the Justice League had pulled together facing a crisis, and Dinah found herself a member once more.
Diana squeeze her shoulder gently, "It isn't your fault that destiny pulled you into the league again, Dinah. I am sure that Barbara would understand."
"My brain agrees with you," Dinah said wryly, "but my heart..."
Diana laughed softly as she conceded, "I've noticed the heart and mind often confuse one another here in man's world."
"Is it different on Paradise Island?" Dinah had to ask.
"Yes and no," Diana admitted wryly.
Back in the meeting room Superman moved towards the exit as a voice calmly said, "You shouldn't have kicked them out of Metropolis."
Superman looked over at Batman, frowning slightly as he said, "That's a strange thing to say, coming from you."
Batman nodded, silently conceding the point. He was known as a perfectionist, hard on his allies and friends, and he had even driven away one or two of them, temporarily. "If it's your city, like you claim," Batman said flatly, "you should have been there. If you weren't, you have no right to second guess the people in the field."
Superman paused, then nodded slightly. "The truth was, I was scared," he admitted, "the Birds could have been killed, that time. If things hadn't worked out just right..."
Batman nodded, having suspected it was something like that. Superman might be the most powerful hero on Earth (arguably) but deep down he cared far to much for his fellow heroes. It was possibly his one fatal flaw, though no one would probably tell Superman that.
"They can take care of themselves, Clark," Batman said quietly, "trust them."
Superman nodded slightly, "I'll try."
Deciding it was best to change the subject Batman went back to the topic of the meeting and said, "I'll have Nightwing put the word out to the Titans, can you have Conner pass it along to the Teens?"
"He and Robin, yes," Superman agreed. He looked thoughtful, "We'll need to check out the cities without prominent heroes, too, like Opal City."
Both knew that former villain the Shade also operated out of Opal, but neither mentioned him. Batman because he didn't trust the former villain, and Superman because he knew suggesting contacting Shade would upset Batman. On such compromises were long standing friendships maintained...
"Should we notify the Doom Patrol too?" Superman asked as they headed out.
"Not as long as they're affiliated with the Oolong Island villains," Batman shook his head as they headed for the teleporters.
Back on Earth, the network that Oracle was establishing spread out it's threads. The woman called Gypsy smiled slightly as she invisibly followed the robber, her esper ability making him and his gang ignore her. They were raiding STAR labs in New York, apparently hoping to steal advanced weapons or other technology. Just as they were about to penetrate the vault Gypsy flipped a fire alarm, the sirens whooping loudly and panicking them men.
"What the hell?" the leader yelped.
"Shit, the cops and fire guys will be here soon! Run!" another man yelped.
AS they bolted Gypsy invisibly tripped the third man, the other abandoning him. Before he could recover she knocked him out, then hurried after the others. Hidden by her power she dropped the second man, leaving only one running crook to deal with.
"You gotta be kidding me," the man panted as he ran up the stairs, heading towards the exits in the vain hope of escape.
"Hi," a cheerful voice came from nowhere.
"Shit!" he cried as he drew his gun, wheeling around to try to find his attacker.
Calmly Gypsy chopped him across the back of the neck, then punched him when the first blow didn't quite drop him. Casually she used a length of cord to secure his hands and hurried off, knowing the police would be arriving soon.
Escaping the building herself Gypsy let go of her invisibility, revealing a black haired young woman in a loose skirt and t-shirt, with a leather jacket over top. From the street she watched the police hauling the men away, and hoped the cops would hold them for awhile.
Taking out the card Oracle had sent her with a updated email and phone number Gypsy mused, "Maybe I should take up her offer." She smiled wryly, "It might be nice just to have some company on these missions..."
Back in Gotham City, new District Attorney Kate Spencer frowned as she studied briefs on the latest cases, trying to put the invitation she had received out of her mind. As the superhero Manhunter she had worked on her own and as a agent of the DEO to fill in where the law failed, if needed killing criminals who escaped on technicalities.
As time had passed she began questioning her actions, and now Kate was determined to try to stay on the right side of the law. That meant that she had to convict her opponents fairly, so that a hero like Manhunter wouldn't be needed.
'Or like the Birds,' Kate frowned, checking over the details of the Metropolis bust.
The bust was a good one on weapons charges, at least, but the drugs were a whole other story. The narcotic itself wasn't illegal, yet, so they couldn't bust the criminals for that. Kate made a note on another point, realizing they could get a similar lab on chemical safety and pollution laws, too.
A knock on her door made Kate look up and she smiled as James Gordon entered. "Comish," she said with a smile,. "what brings you here?"
"Just checking in on the Intergang mess," Gordon admitted, sighing. "Do you have a angle we can use if a lab turns up in Gotham?"
"Actually, yes," Kate smiled, "I think we can get them on hazardous materials charges, if we turn up a drug lab."
"Of course!" James nodded, the older man smiling, "good work."
"Thank you," Kate smiled, satisfied. A smirk appeared on her face as she teasingly asked, "What's this I hear about you and a certain pilot?"
James Gordon actually blushed, which was surprisingly cute on a man of his age. "Well, I mean...," he stuttered.
Kate grinned, "It's okay, I shouldn't press." She looked amused as she asked, "Is Zinda coming back tomorrow?"
"We're supposed to go out for lunch," James admitted. "She's a bit... overwhelming."
"Good luck," Kate grinned. She was tempted to suggest he take plenty of viagra, but decided it'd be in poor taste.
To be continued...
