*A/N: Hello again! I present to you the next chapter! Sorry about the wait, I was busy this weekend spending time with the family for my sisters birthday. The big 1-3! I feel so old! *sniffs* They grow up so fast...*sentimental tear* But anyway, here you go, this chapter mainly focuses on the human portion of the league and how they handle this outrageous bit of news, but don't worry, that doesn't mean our furry five aren't in it! Anyway, I'm gonna shut up and let you read; will update soon!
Staring out of the window, looking down at the earth below, Booster Gold unenthusiastically maintained his post on watch duty. Lazily twiddling his thumbs, he stared out at the empty assembly halls and sighed dismally before verbally expressing his disdain for the night watch. "Man, I know it's only once a week, but I never volunteered for this," he groaned to Skeets. "I mean, people volunteer for the night watch all the time, why was I 'assigned'?"
"Probably because you've never volunteered," the little droid responded as it hovered over its friend's shoulder. "Every member of the League is required to assist in the watch sooner or later-"
"Yeah, but for what?" Booster continued to whine. "It's not even like we get free donuts or anything. If we're trying to protect the earth, shouldn't we be doing it on earth?" he asked, folding his arms in discontent. "I mean let's be honest; Booster Gold is more than capable of protecting earth without being stuck on watch duty. I'm a superhero, not a watchdog."
"Yes Booster, but league policy has required you to assume the duty of a watchdog for the night," Skeets calmly replied, just as the elevator doors opened, allowing Vigilante to exit and make his way towards the slouching Booster Gold.
"Eve'nin Booster," he said as he casually sauntered toward the disgruntled leaguer at his post. "Came to relieve ya of yer duties. I got the next shift." He continued as he placed a hand on the back of Booster's seat.
"See," said Skeets optimistically. "Your ordeal is over. Now we can proceed to find something of interest to do."
"Finally," Booster Gold cheered as he sprang from his seat and nodded to his substitute. "Thanks Vig. You have no idea how dull this was," he continued as he pointed out of the immense glass windows, out to the starry black cosmos. "Nothing ever happens-" just then, there was a sudden flash of light from the transporter bay below. Startled and confused, both Vigilante and Booster Gold, leapt toward the railing and peered down at the transporter as the flash of light began to subside. Both knew nothing of any missions taking place that night, and no one was expected to be exiting or entering the tower at the moment, so in suspicion, the two proceeded to draw their weapons in anticipation of an intruder; however, as the lights and matter cleared, what the two saw was far from what they'd expected... a spotted leopard and an enormous white lion stood calmly in the Watchtower, calmly stepping off of the transporter and surveying the area.
"What in the name of-"
"Skeets!" exclaimed Booster Gold in a loud whisper. "There's a lion in the Watchtower!"
"Don't forget the leopard," the little android replied as its master fearfully crouched behind his chair.
"Well thankee, I hadn't noticed," snapped Vigilante as he turned back to his shocked teammate. Turning back to the big cats down below, he watched as the two creatures remained near the transporter, still searching the area for any other presence. Confused, Vigilante studied the two predators as they calmly held their ground. Any other animal (had such a scenario ever happened) would have been running through the Watchtower, terrified and frantic to find a way out, but these two seemed completely unfazed, as if they knew where they were and what they were doing. Sensing something was not right, Vigilante shot a glance at Booster Gold and ordered for him to call in back up. "Go find Shayera," he whispered sternly as he looked back down at the transporter which began to activate a second time. Before the light subsided and whatever else was getting off of the transporter could be seen, Vigilante repeated his order to find backup. "Git goin'!" he shouted as Booster and Skeets hurried to find any other leaguers in the tower.
Looking back at the scene below, Vigilante stared at the big cats as they approached the transporter and greeted the second group of animals that had somehow made it into the Watchtower! 'What in tarnation?' he thought to himself as the other animals- a fox, an eagle, and a wolf- also exited the transporter and joined the lion and leopard. Listening to the discombobulated series of growls, screeches, and roars, Vigilante grew even more confused, eavesdropping on what sounded like a conversation. 'As if the idea of a group of wild animals infiltrating the Watchtower wasn't crazy enough,' he thought to himself, 'now they were having a discussion'. Still studying the scene, Vigilante had all but forgotten about Booster, until he heard the elevator doors open and his teammate return, this time with Green Arrow and Hawk Girl.
"Vig, any sign of-"
"Ssh!" the cowboy snapped as he saw the wolf turn toward the source of the commotion. Its ears standing erect and a focused look in its eyes, Booster tried to duck down behind a chair, hoping he hadn't been seen; but as the rest of the animals turned and looked up to the balcony, the small group knew their cover had been blown.
"How on earth did they get in here?" asked Shayera as she fearlessly looked down at their intruders.
"The transporter," Vigilante replied. "And I'm still wond'rin' how the varmints figured out how to use that!" He continued while he and Green Arrow studied the animals, their weapons aimed and ready. Her mace clenched in her fist, Shayera also studied the strange pack of strays. Looking each over, she finally focused on the shaggy red fox which seemed to be in conversation with the visibly annoyed eagle. Watching as the fox continued to jokingly poke and prod the bird with its paw, Shayera loosened her grip on her mace and looked back to her team.
"Call me crazy, but, I don't think they're dangerous," she said as she looked back down at the group of animals.
"Excuse me?" shouted Green Arrow and Booster Gold in shock.
"Don't mean to question your judgment ma'am, but have ya not noticed the group of wild animals-"
"-Three of which are known to be deadly" added Booster Gold as he pointed down at the lion, wolf, and leopard.
"-Sitting in Justice League headquarters?"
"Well then, I guess we'll have to address the two that are less threatening," she replied as she flew down to the transporter.
"Shayera!" shouted Green Arrow as he, Booster Gold, and Vigilante ran to the elevator to follow her downstairs. Standing mere feet away from the animals, Hawk Girl maintained her composure and, cautiously began to approach; but before she could take more than two steps, the fox- clumsily, but elated none the less- ran towards her and began to happily bounce up and down, barking and whining as if it were trying to tell her an epic story.
"Okay?" Shayera replied as she confusedly stared down at the energetic ball of red fur. Not long after being greeted by the fox, Shayera froze with fear as the leopard approached and stood at her side; by then Green Arrow and the others had made it to the transporter and sprinted to Hawk Girl's defense before the hulking white lion could make contact. Weapons aimed, they proceeded to shout warnings and threats at the perplexed and, seemingly annoyed apex predator.
"That's it, we've gotta figure out how these fur balls got in here, and send them back to where they came from!" shouted Green Arrow, his electric-charged arrow still aimed at the lion's head.
"Would you idiots relax?" Shayera shouted as she stepped between the men and their targets. "Don't you think that if these things were dangerous they would've attacked by now?" The group continued to yell and bicker about the situation, leaving their subjects to watch in silence. After several more minutes of pointless arguing, the quarrel was quickly silenced by the resonating rumble of a growl. Looking back to the animals, the team redrew their weapons- Shayera included- as the brooding black wolf walked forward. Frozen in shock as the menacing canine approached, all four heroes completely failed to notice the suspicious object that the wolf had clenched in its fangs, until the animal placed on the floor in front of them, sliding it forward with its paw. Suspicious, Shayera stared at the wolf as it exchanged glances and calmly backed away, allowing her to cautiously pick up the shiny piece of black metal. Curiously, she mused over the object.
"What is it?" Vigilante asked as he and the others watched Shayera run her fingers along its sleek surface. Completely unsure of what it was, she looked back to the wolf, an alert, but otherwise relaxed look in its eyes.
"Be careful," warned Green Arrow. "It could be a bomb!" Cynically, Shayera turned towards him and dismissed his warning.
"Uh, he just had this thing in his mouth," she said pointing to the item's bearer, waving the object freely in her other hand. "I highly doubt that this thing is-" suddenly she was cut short as the little black object burst open! Startled everyone, including most of the animals, jumped back in fear as the little object expanded on the floor, revealing its true identity: a bataraang!
Staring at the signature weapon in disbelief, Shayera and the others exchanged looks of surprise and confusion, before returning their attention to the iconic object. "Is that what I think it is?" asked Booster Gold as he and Skeets inquisitively examined the bataraang. Looking from the weapon, to the wolf that provided it, Green Arrow's eyes widened as he realized what was happening.
"I think the better question is... 'who'?"