A/N: Straight in with Chapter 5! Thanks to all for sticking with this story. As always I welcome any comment you may have, just leave a review!

Gotham. Wayne Enterprises. Bruce Wayne's Office.

"Mr Wayne?" a voice came over the phone on his desk. Bruce pressed the button to open the line.

"Yes, Caroline?"

"You have the President on line 1."

"Thank you" he pressed the button and turned on the open speaker. "Mr President."

"Good afternoon," Luthor's voice sounded, "I just wanted to express my thanks again for your input into the OMHR. Your speech the other day has apparently lifted the spirits of a lot of heroes. We have 29 new registrations as of 5 minutes ago."

"Any notable members?" Bruce replied.

"We have Cyborg, 3 lanterns and Black Canary as official OMHR members."

"Only three lanterns? Which of them haven't signed up?"

"Guy Gardner and Kyle Rayner. We haven't been able to reach Rayner even with our communications being boosted by the Watchtower."

"Rayner is almost always in deep space at the moment, that doesn't surprise me. What about Gardner?" Bruce sat back in his chair.

"He was very reluctant to even talk to us, and when he did, let's just say he didn't use language suitable for public broadcast. I think that Red Lantern ring of his may have been influencing his decision too much."

"They rely on anger for their strength. Having said that, he doesn't strike me as a person who would've signed up without his ring anyway." He looked out of his office window at the shimmering sunlight glistening on the high-rise windows outside. "Is that it?"

"Is that it, Sir" Luthor replied sternly "Just because we've fought in the past doesn't mean you get to ignore the office I hold."

"Right…" Bruce sarcastically retorted, "Is that it Sir?" He gritted his teeth as he said it. This was going to be hard to get used to.

Later that night. Gotham City. The roof of Dini Tower. Batman and Robin are on routine patrol together.

"I knew he wouldn't show." Robin said, putting his binoculars away.

"Patience, Robin." Batman replied. They spent the next 20 minutes in silence watching the building on the other side of the street.

"Father," Robin said, breaking the silence abruptly, "I wish to speak with you about something."

"Go on…" Batman replied.

"I've been thinking about the registration. Now you're publicly known as Bruce Wayne, I realise that as your son, I'm obliged to register myself."

"Agreed."

"The thing is, I'm not going to." Batman turned to his son. "I don't believe the governments of the world are the right hands to be controlling what we do, and quite frankly, I'm surprised you don't see it that way too."

"Damian, you're letting Ra's…"

"So what? Grandfather always said that civilisation was corrupt and weak. Every time it tries to consolidate its power, it becomes dirtier and dirtier. Ra's Al Ghul is one of the greatest minds on this planet. Is it such a stretch for you to believe that he's right?" Batman didn't reply. "Father, I respect you more than almost everyone else I've ever met, but I cannot side with you on this. It just won't happen." Batman took in breath to speak, but was cut off by the com-link in his ear.

"Sir, there seems to be a problem at the Gotham Central Train Station." Alfred's voice said into his ear. "I had master Grayson look into it but he appears to be having some trouble."

"Who's behind it?"

"Riddler, I believe, sir."

"We're on our way." Batman turned around, turning off his com-link to find that Robin had gone. Well, at least he's learning.

3 days later. The speedy rebuilding of the White House is nearing completion. President Luthor, in a newly built and doubly protected Oval Office is meeting with Waller and General Trevor.

"I have to say Amanda, I've never been more pleased with work bearing your signature." Luthor shook her hand.

"Thank you, sir. However, I haven't come here today to rake in the praise, we have a minor problem."

"Go on…" Luthor poured himself a glass of water from the decanter.

"We've had about a third of the League openly refusing registration. As far as I understand it, the UN gives us jurisdiction over domestic heroes and so we need to decide what we're going to do about them." Glancing out of the window, Luthor smiled.

"Any ideas, General?"

"Well, sir, it seems as though the apprehension and detention of the league members who attempt to continue as they are without registering is the most logical option."

"Do we have the means to pull that off?" asked Luthor.

"Yes sir," Waller interjected, "With those already registered we have more than enough firepower to take them down."

"Good, that's apprehension dealt with. What about detention?" Luthor smirked.

"I've already got people drawing up the plans now. A high-tech facility, placed at the boundary of United States territory offshore and fully equipped to deal with those it houses."

"Excellent. Once again Amanda, you've outdone yourself." Waller smiled at the compliment.

"Anything else you'd like to discuss, sir?" Waller said, still smiling.

"No, that'll be all, thank you." Waller turned to leave the room, whilst General Trevor packed up his things. As soon as he clocked Waller leaving the room, he turned back to Luthor.

"Sir, if I may?" He said.

"Go ahead, General." Luthor replied cheerfully.

"When these heroes get brought in, and I choose my words carefully here, please let them be brought in with their dignity? These people put their lives on the line for ordinary people on a daily basis. They don't deserve to be brought in like criminals."

"Criminals?" Luthor sounded overtly surprised. "I'm afraid that's exactly what they are. Should they continue to pursue their current lifestyle, by which I mean acts of unsanctioned vigilantism, they would be breaking the law and therefore become criminals. We can't be sentimental about this, General. You of all people should know that, or do I need to remind you of your past relations to a certain Amazonian princess?" Trevor, clenching his fists, was doing his utmost to restrain himself. "Anything else you would like to bring up, General Trevor?"

"No, sir." He saluted, picked up his things and left the room. As he left, Waller was waiting behind the door.

"What was that, Steve?" she said, the growling undertone of anger giving an unsettling atmosphere to the conversation.

"None of your concern, Amanda" Trevor said, not pausing to wait for Waller, as he walked briskly down the hallway and towards his car.

Atlantis. Martian Manhunter and Aquaman are mulling over the events on the surface.

"Both of them are taking it way too far out of hand." Aquaman said. The two of them were sitting at the table in the main dining hall of Aquaman's palace.

"Agreed. I've never seen Bruce become so proactively aggressive before" J'onn replied. The two Justice League heavy-hitters were feeling slightly uncomfortable, mulling over the possible outcomes of the turmoil erupting around them.

"I know this is far more important, but I remember them arguing a couple of months ago. They literally didn't stop for like 2 and a half hours. Then all kinds of people needlessly got involved and by the end of it, no-one really remembered what they were fighting for" Aquaman joked. J'onn tried his best to make a convincing laugh. The awkward silence that followed was swiftly broken by an Atlantean guard entering the room.

"Sire, you have visitors" he replied, bowing as Aquaman stood up.

"I wasn't expecting anybody" he replied, "Send them through." The guard nodded and turned towards the door. He ushered the visitors through as he passed them. J'onn's abnormally large eyebrows raised in surprise as he saw Wonder Woman and Doctor Fate flying through the doorway.

"Good evening Arthur, J'onn" Fate said, as he landed softly on the ground.

"What are you doing here? I thought you'd be on Themyscira?" Aquaman said.

"We have much more pressing matters to discuss in person" she replied. Fate turned towards J'onn, standing aside from Aquaman so he could get a better view.

"J'onn, we need your help to locate someone."