AN: I just want to say, before you start reading this chapter, thanks to Ben A, the dates have changed. I put the wrong month and day. It's supposed to be May the third In this episode. So any other problems in continuity, please let me know. As for some demonic rights Olmacc asked about, all I have to say is, it's coming up later.

3.

Watchtower

May 3

14:42 UTC

"In light of what transpired in Arlington, your team's judgement was poor. The alien in question should have been taken to a more secluded area before engaging in battle. As it is, the entire country was witness to yet another alien arrival and has begun to ask questions as to the reason behind it. On the other hand, due to the fast actions and decisions by Blue Beetle, Wonder Girl, and Superboy, the government has listed the incident as successful in terms of actions the League and it's associates have taken. Further more, no civilian was severely injured and all repairs are being taken care of. Good job. But next time a threat should appear in a populated area, pull back, keep reconnicence, and wait for back up with confronting them in a fight as the last option available."

Sitting at the head of a long conference table, Batman had a large holo-screen behind him fade out as those with him began to stand. Information of the now dubbed, Blackfire Incident, was displayed and scrolled from bottom to top with notes on what was handled wrong and what was handled correctly. Photographs of the damage caused were shown as well as the few people who were injured in the pursuit. Despite how badly some of it was, all were relieved no one was killed.

Members from both teams involved, the black ops team and Titans, as well as Zatanna and Kara, were present and were heading for the door when the Dark Knight called Conner back. Both he and Kara knew what it was about as they had spoke about it the day after and it was only a matter of time before he had to hear it from one of the League's top leaders.

With the sliding metal door closing, Conner waited for a moment before Batman spoke again. It grew surprisingly cold in the room, strange with him being Kryptonian and naturally warmer than humans.

Staring out the window into space, Batman remained as silent and still as ever. "As leader, your job is to set the bar and example of how others act in the field. Although your actions in Texas were correct, your actions within Watchtower were not. It was evident on the recording you were acting on emotion more than anything. Blue Beetle almost had Blackfire apprehended when she coerced you into intervening. The result was her getting free. Now I want to know, are you a good choice to be the leader of a team?"

Not letting his gaze falter, Conner continued to stare into Batman's eyes. All these years in dealing with the veteran League member taught him to always have a strong front and not to show any hint of backing down. "I know it was the wrong decision. I was caught up in the moment and lost it when she mocked M'gann. I'll do better next time."

"Remember, you can not let your emotions get the best of you. While you restrained yourself from using your Tactile Telekinesis inside Watchtower, you also need to remember your teammates will be looking to you for examples on how to act in the field. I understand being a leader is still somewhat new, which is why I had Mrs. Martian put in place as co-leader with you so she could learn the same things you are. All of you, the black ops and Titans are the future of the Justice League and we need to know the world will be left in good hands."

"It will be. I made a mistake and it won't happen again."

"Good. Dismissed."

As Conner turned and headed for the door, Batman reached into his utility belt and withdrew a dark object. "And one more thing."

The moment the Krypto-human turned back around, the caped League member tossed the object at him. "Wear the glasses when in you're civilian attire."

Catching the pair of eye glasses, Conner gave a sigh and slipped them in a pocket. "Still don't get how glasses can pass for a disguise."

Batman refrained from telling him they did fool him once, and how he knew the Krypto-human would not wear them, when Zatanna passed the Krypto-clone and entered the room. "Batman, I need to speak with you if you're free."

"What is this about?"

"Raven. I think you'll want to know about this."

Blood Temple

May 3

15:07 UTC

Kneeling behind the stone railing of the balcony overlooking a large group of hooded individuals, Aqualad, Wonder Girl, and Blue Beetle had found their first real clue as to what this Cult of Blood was up to. Aqualad's wrist mounted holo-computer recorded a sample of the words being spoken by the group while Blue Beetle finished taking zoomed in pictures of the area via his scarab. Wonder Girl made sure they were covered and was trying to reach the three League members to find out what they had discovered.

"Demonic god?" Wonder Girl asked. "Of all things carved into the walls, they chose demonic god?"

"I am afraid so. This is not simply a cult looking to establish themselves as some satanic group as I had believed. They seem to be attempting to raise something they call Trigon."

"Um, hermano?" Blue Beetle whispered. "It gets worse. My scarab has translated the rest of the text on the wall. Basically, it's nothing but dead languages from around the word. It's a mix of Atlantian, Latin, Arabic, Norse, Cypro Manoan, and a few others to make one coherent language."

"So, what does it say?" Wonder Girl asked.

"Uh, well, it says, 'He who is the dark lord, he who is death, he who is our demonic god, shall be granted passage through us and make the world as it should be. The smart fool, the one of sight through touch, the one celebrating life through movement, the one who hides good within evil, shall spill their life for the one who lives in darkness and treads in light.'"

"Okay, that's not insane at all."

"No, it is not." Thinking back, the Atlantian leader went over the words Lilith had told him and agreed with what Wonder Girl had said, even though she was being sarcastic. "Lilith said the same thing, about the five sacrifices. Beetle, any way you can translate what they are chanting?"

"One second." Giving his scarab time to do it's 'magic', Blue Beetle waited for the translated words to display in front of his eyes as his back mounted friend finished its job. "Okay...'All hail Trigon...God of Gods, God of Darkness, God of Blood, God of Slaughter, God of Fire, God of Never Ending Death...He who is with him...shall be made part of him...He who is against him shall be...destroyed. Through his offspring he shall...rise...and take his place as lord and master...of all things living and dead."

"Uh, guys," Wonder Girl whispered from her spot near the hall entrance.

"I don't understand the rest," Blue Beetle said. "It's something about four sacrifices but their carvings say five...and something about the Dagger of Harvesting?"

"Guys?"

"If they indicate four sacrifices, then one has been performed, but who?" Aqualad questioned.

"Guys! Hey!"

"Maybe the sacrifice they did was Eddie?" Blue Beetle told him. "Lilith did say he was sacrificed with a knife when she was hiding with Blue Devil."

"Oh, forget it," Wonder Girl whispered then disappeared.

"But if that is true, then what and where is this Dagger of Harvesting?" Aqualad asked. "And which one of the sacrifices is Eddie?"

Searching the open area below them again, Blue Beetle zoomed in on an alter with a raised square stone on top. Carved into the rock was something reminiscent of a three bladed weapon. "I don't think it's here. And there's nothing saying who the sacrifices are."

Startling the two, a thud came from behind them, tearing their gaze away from the group below and back to where the hallway was. Standing in the middle of the corridor, Wonder Girl was dusting her hands off with two hooded men lying unconscious at her feet. "Next time I say something when I say it, you had better hear me say it."

"Now you see why I like her?" Blue Beetle whispered to Aqualad. "She's total awesomeness."

Grinning, Wonder Girl responded with a wink. "And don't you forget it."

Closing out his wrist computer, Aqualad gave one last look at the group below them before signaling to back out slowly. The three man team did so without a sound, leaving the two unconscious cult members slumped in the shadows.

Down on the floor, the gathering of hooded men continued their chant, never turning to see the three black ops heroes leaving their vicinity when they all stopped at the same time. An erie silence settled over the group as one cult member in front of them slightly picked his head up and opened his eyes. Slowly, he brought his arm up, a closed fist rose in the air with him saying nothing. Extending two fingers, he motioned for the group to move out, and kill the intruders.

Watchtower

May 3

15:09 UTC

"So you see my point."

Walking around the large conference table within the room they were in, Zatanna was just finishing up her findings and concerns with Batman.

"Rachel is not entirely human and has a much darker lineage. What that is, I and my father do not yet know. All we have gathered through our mutual work with her, is a power rivaling the most powerful of all lords of order, by far stronger than my father and is something we can not seem to even begin to comprehend."

Watching the magician come to a stop at the start of the table, Batman let out a heavy breath. "So this is what Doctor Fate has been trying to discover on his own."

"What? Batman, did you-"

"Yes. I was made aware of a number of things you have presented here and have allowed your father to work on this potential threat alone."

"But, but why? Why wouldn't you help him or have someone else help him? Why would you not even say anything to anyone in the League? Or to Conner or M'gann? They not only have a hand in training her, but she lives in Titans Tower. She could have easy access to any one of us should she turn away from us."

"Doctor Fate requested for everything to be held close to the vest as much as possible as this mater must be held delicately. He first came to me about this shortly after the battle on Roanoke Island, describing what he sensed when in close proximity to her. He has expressed everything you have told me and believes there is no threat at this point as do I. With you now knowing about what he has discovered, I can only assume he is just about ready to bring this issue to the entire League."

"So you're not going to tell them?" Zatanna asked, dumbfounded even she has been kept in the dark about the Gothic girl.

"It is up to your father, Doctor Fate."

Letting out a sigh, Zatanna ran a hand through her black locks. "You do know this may not go over well with her or any of the Titans, right? We should have all been in the loop on this. I'll speak with Fate. This has to be known by everyone."

As she turned to leave, Batman called her name, stopping her in her tracks. The tone he used was one every League member has heard in the field, stern and authoritative. Coming to a stop, she had just turned to meet his gaze when he walked by, telling her one final thing. His words made her eyes widen as it was a confession, something no one would have thought the Batman would ever admit. As the metal door slid shut behind him, Zatanna lowered her head and leaned against one of the many chairs around the conference table with her hands resting on the seat's back and muttered what he told her.

"There's no plan for this? How can there be no plan for this?"