(Next update is here. There are parts that relate/callback to Book 2, but this isn't a crossover.)
: Thanks, hope you enjoy.
Death Fury: Thanks. I still wish to write, I just struggle with things.
Chapter 30: Study and Preparation
(The Watchtower, a few days later)
Batman sat before the main computer of the Watchtower, typing furiously.
"Where are you?"
Each method he used through the computer's systems searched throughout Europe, but an x continued to appear with a blaring sound. The Dark Knight grumbled as he tried each and every algorithm he could think of.
A short distance away, a small number of both the League and the team watched him. Nightwing watched, arms crossed, and sighed.
"He's been searching for them ever since we lost track of the werewolves."
Wonder Woman nodded.
"It would seem the lycanthropes are as good as the Amazons at concealing themselves from the world."
Nightwing nodded.
"And here I thought Batman would find them as soon as he got to the main computer."
Zatanna rubbed the back of her neck.
"The werewolves are greatly feared…and dare I say: respected throughout the magical community. Though I hadn't heard anything about them having this level of power or influence."
Nightwing raised an eyebrow at this.
"What do you mean?"
"All the stories I heard about them were that they were savages, no one I know knows or has said they had the ability to mask their presence."
Superman sighed.
"I think we got a taste of that first part during our confrontation."
Black Canary grumbled.
"I want a rematch. Those monsters can't just humiliate us and get away with it."
"Only they and we know about that apparently. There's been no rumors or drama amongst the magical community."
Black Canary cracked her knuckles.
"They won't be so lucky next time."
Superman rubbed the part of his face where Ulva had hit him.
"Maybe a surprise attack. But I've never been hit like that before."
Wonder Woman scowled.
"I believed when Zeus cursed Lycaon, that was the start of the werewolf curse…but it would seem it is older and stronger than we Amazons believed."
Tigress leaned back against the wall, arms crossed.
"We have to free Drew from that curse."
Black Canary scoffed.
"Didn't you hear him? He joined them willingly. We should've known something was wrong with him when he was so willing to kill. We should've locked him in a cage that first time in Gotham."
Nightwing looked over to Batman, who still typed away at the computer.
"Drew was seemingly stronger than he should've been both in and out of animal form. Now we know why. The problem is finding him and stopping him."
The others nodded. Nightwing turned to the others.
"But first, we have to train. We need to form multiple strike teams to be able to fight him."
Tigress sighed and nodded.
"We'll have to be careful with who we choose. This whole mess has caused us to lose Red Hood, who thinks we betrayed Drew and left us out of guilt, he's out God knows where and Wolf won't even go on missions with us."
Nightwing nodded.
"Jason was a loose cannon who was willing to kill. He didn't belong on the team either. We'll track him down after we take down Drew and the werewolves. As for Wolf, he's an animal. He's handy in a fight, but the werewolves likely have some control over wolves, even one's whose DNA have been altered."
"I volunteer for a team."
They all turned around to see Beast Boy approaching. Nightwing's eyes widened a little.
"You sure BB?"
The shapeshifter nodded.
"Drew was/is my friend. And yes, we do have to stop him. But if the curse really has a hold over him, that's what's driven him to kill. If we free him, he won't have the urge to."
Superman sighed.
"Perhaps, but we can't look past the deaths he's caused."
"I'm not saying to. He needs help. He's not a monster…I just wish I'd seen that before he left. You guys didn't pay enough attention to him. He was hurt…what we said made him feel betrayed."
Wonder Woman sighed.
"Perhaps Garfield is right."
Nightwing rubbed his chin.
"Perhaps. Beast Boy will be on the first strike team, to hopefully reason with Drew. I will admit and say I'd rather not draw out a fight with him. When he came back from…wherever he was…he changed, became even more deadly."
Tigress scoffed.
"Yeah, a freaking ninja."
Beast Boy scratched his chin.
"Did any of you see that new thing in his room? Before somehow all his stuff disappeared after he did?"
Nightwing raised an eyebrow.
"That blue thing that had stacks?"
"Yeah, exactly. At the top it said something."
"Battle Nexus Champion."
They all turned, Batman now standing with them. Some of them went wide-eyed, not having heard him walk to stand with them. The Dark Knight's arms were crossed and if there was any anger from before, he hid it well.
"Gathering the League and the team. It's time we strategize."
(The Watchtower Conference room, an hour later)
The teams sat and stood around the conference room. Batman and Nightwing stood at the front with a holographic screen between them. The Dark Knight spoke first.
"To capture Drew and the werewolves, we must study everything we can about them."
Robin raised a hand.
"How have your searches through the Watchtower's computer gone?"
The Dark Knight frowned. Robin lowered his hand, rubbing the back of his hand with it.
"Sorry."
The Dark Knight turned back to the teams as a whole.
"Dr. Fate. How has your search gone?"
The Lord of Order sighed.
"Not well. Normally protection and masking spells would be simple for me to undo or break. But this magic is old, very old."
Rocket couldn't help but giggle.
"You're telling me just because some magic is old means you can't undo it?"
Dr. Fate's eyes glowed and Rocket gulped.
"Sorry."
"Not simply just because it's 'old'. It's a powerful magic that I haven't encountered before until we came across the werewolves. While perhaps a common werewolf would not possess or not know how to utilize such magic, these are the very first of them. They have knowledge and understanding of the Red and the Clear unlike anything I have encountered."
Many of those gathered were scratching their heads until Beast Boy spoke up.
"I'm sorry…the Red?...And the Clear?"
Dr. Fate sighed and his eyes glowed once again. Suddenly they all appeared to be in the cosmos themselves. Dr. Fate appeared before them.
"The Red and the Clear are mystic forces that are tied with animal life, the Red with beasts of the land and sky, the Clear with those of the rivers, lakes, and seas. They are each run by a Parliament of sorts. The Red run by the Parliament of Limbs and the Clear run by the Parliament of Waves. Heroes like Beast Boy, Vixen, and the Atlanteans are tied to these mystic forces."
As he spoke, mystic forms of various animals appeared and surrounded them outlined by the color of the mystic force they were tied to.
Beast Boy scratched his head.
"But I was given Martian blood. How am I-?"
"There is a reason why you can only transform into animals."
Beast Boy's eyes widened in realization before nodding to Nabu. Vixen rubbed her chin.
"The Tantu Totem was a gift given by Anansi to my ancestors, he must've drawn on and connected it to the Red and the Clear."
"Indeed."
The Dark Knight frowned.
"This doesn't help with our strategy to defeat and capture them."
Dr. Fate sighed and his eyes glowed again. They were all suddenly back in the conference room. Nabu shook his head.
"One must understand the opposition in order to know how to defeat them. I thought you would understand that, Batman."
"I understand them: they're monsters, killers, savages. Drew has murdered countless. We do not kill, no matter who they are. I made that clear after he murdered the Joker, but it didn't last."
Those gathered conversed on this, some nodding. Wonder Woman rubbed her chin.
"The werewolves ambushed us, that is why they managed to defeat us. In an open battle, they will not succeed."
Martian Manhunter nodded.
"But there's another problem."
All but M'gann and Dr. Fate reacted with surprise. Superboy scratched the back of his head.
"What do you mean?"
"Their minds can't be read."
"What?!"
"I don't know how, but these creatures somehow are immune to their minds being read nor attacked. I tried during our fight, but I couldn't."
Dr. Fate nodded.
"It would seem with their mystic powers, their spirits are too wild and ferocious. Even if one were somehow able to, their minds would be too chaotic to comprehend or defend against. While you may have not been able to defend yourself and the others psychically, J'onn J'onzz, it was fortunate your mind didn't touch theirs…for I fear what may have happened to you."
Martian Manhunter nodded.
The Dark Knight sighed. He picked up a remote on the table before him and pressed a button. The holographic screen then pictured Drew's Battle Nexus trophy. Batgirl's eyes narrowed, studying the image.
"Battle Nexus Champion?"
Nightwing nodded.
"While Drew was…wherever he was, he returned with this. Batman theorized that wherever Chimera was, he fought in a tournament of some kind and came out the winner."
Wonder Woman nodded.
"We saw this after and following his return. Managing to defeat Ra's al Ghul and matching one of my sisters in combat."
The Dark Knight pushed the button again. On the screen was a recording of Drew fighting Ares while he was disguised.
"On Themyscira, Drew managed to convince the sorceress the Amazons imprisoned to disguise him as whom he called 'the Shredder'."
The footage of Drew as the Shredder with lightning roaring and shooting across the sky and battling Ares made some widen their eyes. Green Arrow scratched his chin.
"Do we know how this 'Shredder' is?"
The Dark Knight shook his head. Wonder Woman sighed.
"My mother told me before we returned that Drew gave hints to this 'Shredder', only saying my mother didn't want to know."
The Dark Knight scowled.
"It doesn't matter. We will take down him and the rest of those monsters. We cannot let any of this madness continue. The world cannot expect us to uphold our beliefs and ideals if we let madmen like Drew walk free."
Many nodded at this. Nightwing nodded to Batman. The two men turned to the League and the team. Batman's eyes narrowed.
"Now we prepare."
To be continued…
(Hope you all enjoyed the update.)