TWENTY

The Watchtower

September 26th, 2010

Approximately 11:45 PM

The Watchtower.

A satellite fortress high above the orbit of Earth. Made from a hollowed-out asteroid, it had once served the Green Lantern Corps for many decades before it had been decommissioned in favour of the cheaper and considerably smaller Listening Post. Now in Earth's orbit, the Watchtower is the secret command station for all Justice League personnel for the world. Equipped with Zeta tubes, Justice League can operate anywhere and at any time. In this case, it is now serving as a makeshift tribunal and emergency meeting.

Dinah Lance likes to consider herself an even-tempered person. She does yoga, martial arts, massages, and is in the prime of her life and enjoying what she does the most. But Bruce has just fucking did whatever the fuck Bruce did. Hell, she even suspects Bruce is a high-functioning psychopath! He knows what emotions are! He knows what his actions would entail and how it would be perceived but no~! Bruce does what Bruce does because Bruce is the Goddamn Batman!

On the other end, Oliver Queen was just as likely to blow a gasket. He has an inkling on what Bruce would say, but his main concern is to stop Stanley from poisoning Bruce in retaliation and traumatizing the poor butler. That, and holding back Dinah from screaming at Batman until the latter goes deaf. He could only. First world problems, am I right?

Batman, in the middle, stifled a sigh, his colleagues filing into the meeting room one-by-one. Yup, tonight is going to suck really bad. Then again, why wouldn't it be? Obviously it'll turn out this way, one way or another. Batman expected it, he knows it. Nothing stays hidden forever, but at least he'll have an opportunity. He just needs to find it. Now then, it was time for ceremony…which so happens to be a lot of berating and yelling over one another all directed at him. Wonderful. They devolved into schoolhouse bullying. Fortunately, Clark is one of the only adults here and began stamping on the gavel…wait a minute, when did he get a gavel? Bruce spared him a look, and Clark gave a subtle twitch of his mouth. That motherfuc-

'Thank you all for coming to this emergency meeting.' Clark began, gesturing for others to sit. 'Have a seat, we have a lot to discuss.' Bruce counted down the seconds as everyone began calming down and readjusting themselves into their seats. Three…two…one. 'Now, our first order of business is to discuss Batman's actions, their consequences, and his own penalization for them.'

'In addition.' Wonder Woman jumped in. 'We must discuss about the current alien incursions to Earth, the rise of the Korean-Italian-Bane Criminal Organization, and our current findings of Amberley's activities.'

'Thank you all for your patience.' Clark said, turning to Batman. 'Okay, so Batman. Bruce. You have been accused with poisoning two-'

'Four.' Bruce interjected matter-a-factly, making Clark blink. 'I poisoned all four of them.'

'You poisoned all four-' Clark shook his head. 'Right. Accused with poisoning four people: Inquisitor Amberley Vail, Commissar Ciaphas Cain, Gunner First Class Ferik Jurgen, and Techpriest-'

'Magos.' Bruce corrected.

'Magos, thank you Bruce,' Superman nodded. 'Magos Felicia Tayber. How do you plea-wait, no. You already admitted it so…can you please explain why you did it?'

'I did it to discover what Amberley was planning-' Bruce tried to start, before an angered snarl jumped in.

'That's a load of-' Dinah tried, but was held back and mouth covered by Oliver.

'Perhaps you should start at the beginning.' Diana Prince said, glaring all the same. 'What possessed you to come up with this plan?'

'It all started on September 5th, after Artemis' report about the unexpected alliance between the Korean and Italian Mafia.' Bruce began, as if briefing the League. 'As you may know, Artemis believed to have spotted Amberley based on the cloak. Despite the lack of evidence, my gut feeling told me that there is some truth to her accusations. As such, I began probing alongside Robin and Artemis to look into these events. As you all know, the Koreans and Italians have not only an alliance with each other, but with Bane's Cartel. They have subsequently stolen weapons from the US National Guard, various rival syndicates, the ROK military, Italian Carabineri, and various African Warlords. The end result, they are close to equipping three regiments. Equipping, but no replacements. This level of organization I had initially suspected Ra's Al Ghul, but I had dismissed it.' He pulled out some records. 'In all my investigations, I have not found a single trace of his involvement, let alone is this being his usual Modus Operandi. Thus, my suspicions turned to Amberley.'

'Bullshit!' Dinah sneered. 'How can you blame her?!'

'Dinah.' Oliver hissed, though without its bite.

'I understand your skepticism, but it makes sense.' Bruce replied. 'Amberley, if anything, is the smartest human in this world. She is also capable, and has the mind to do anything she can, given what we learnt about her training is true.' Batman grimaced. 'Amberley Vail is currently the most dangerous human being on Earth at this moment.'

'You're exaggerating.' Shayera Hol retorted. 'Bruce, listen to yourself. You make it sound like she's some villain.'

'You do kinda make it sound like she's an evil version of you.' Captain Marvel remarked. He blinked when they saw Bruce glare at him, making him yelp. 'S-Sorry. But, when you say she's "capable and has a mind to do anything" I just thought of you.' Batman finally sighed.

'I'll admit, the thought did cross my mind.' He grumbled. 'You all have seen Amberley in action, in one way or another. You've seen how she fights. The Inquisitor fights like me and is uninhibited by morality. A dangerous combination.'

'Bruce, she's just a teenager physically.' Hal exclaimed. 'She'll run out of energy if she ever does fight the League.'

'Damn it Hal!' Bruce fist hit the table. 'Do you remember when they first came to the Watchtower?! The Inquisitor tried to blow up the station with herself on it! You weren't there! You didn't know what she said!' He hissed. 'Do you know what she said?! "It is better to die for the Emperor than live for yourself!" Amberley is a fanatic! She already considers us race traitors–absolutely irredeemable–because of our acceptance of aliens like J'onn.'

'So why not let J'onn try to infiltrate her mind when she sleeps?' Captain Atom suggested. 'Why the poison?'

'Because Amberley's mental resistance has become stronger.' Bruce bitterly admitted. 'Martian Manhunter's attempts have all failed…not discounting the fact that she is using Gunner as a shield from all attempts at mental invasion.'

'I'm sorry? Gunner?' Captain Atom blinked, head tilted. 'I don't understand. Is he a meta?'

'He is.' Batman confirmed. 'Officially, a state secret in this Imperium Cain, Amberley, and Jurgen serves.'

'Not Felicia?' Katar blinked.

'She worships a different God.' Batman clarified. 'So she and her people are a subservient people to the Imperium, but have significant powers that prevent total conversion to this "God-Emperor" that Cain, Jurgen, and Amberley worship.' He frowned. 'But we are getting off topic.'

'Right.' Clark coughed into his hand. 'I believe we left off with Jurgen?'

'Yes.' Batman restarted. 'Jurgen is a meta, one that prevents any psychic connection or attacks to be made on him or any within this "bubble" of protection. Attempting to separate them only hardens her mental defences to a point that surprised us. A different approach had to be made.'

'The poisoning?' Clark deduced, though a bit unsure.

'That is correct.' Batman confirmed. 'I had been in talks with Martian Pharmacists and Psychologists on the nature of a certain medicine.' He tapped on his console and showed the chemical structure and the pill. 'Colloquially known as "knockout", it is a medicine that lowers the mental defences to allow Psychologists to enter the mind easier and commit to their work. With this, I would be able to investigate and determine the exact extent of Amberley's actions.'

'And you bought these without any thought?!' Dinah hissed. 'Are you insane?! Did you have any idea what possible damage it can do to humans?!'

'Of course I didn't.' Bruce replied. 'I tested it on myself first, and the Martians were all the more willing to assist. They wanted to write papers of their drugs on alien physiology. Last I heard, they are on the second phase of their paper.'

'Though it may be rejected.' Martian Manhunter added. 'Due to the unethical nature of Batman's actions, the testing on adolescence will be rejected in favour for only the human adult.'

'As I was saying, when I was ready to move on, I reduced the dosage with guidance from the pharmacists to be used on Amberley, Ciaphas, Ferik, and Felicia.' Batman pressed on. 'I had snuck into the Queen household after their mission and subsequent capture of The Brain in India and spiked their tea.'

'Motherfuck-' This time, Dinah covered Oliver's mouth. 'Damn it Bruce! What the fuck-' And again. 'How did you know you won't poison us?!'

'Ollie!' Dinah shouted, astonished.

'You know what I mean!' Oliver protested.

'To answer you, Green Arrow likes to drink Orange Pekoe. Black Canary enjoys Chamomile.' Batman explained. 'As such, I avoided the Orange Pekoe and Chamomile for the black tea.' He sighed. 'As such, after the poisoning, I would move onto phase two. Once they have been poisoned and the initial panic subsided, Black Canary and Green Arrow would bring the four to Mount Justice and Martian Manhunter would perform his mental abilities to mindread their minds to discover their involvement. Obviously, this ended in failure.'

'So what went wrong?' Clark asked, raising a hand to prevent a triage of shouts. 'I mean, why admit it?'

'To start, and the most pressing, Amberley's mind is more self-aware than initially anticipated, and is committed to self-destruction.' Batman frowned. 'She was willing to destroy herself to deny us information. As for Ciaphas, his mind was hyper-focused. Every time we tried to enter, we were blocked by a mental defence and prohibited from entering.' He groaned. 'It was very irritating. "Nope, the Commissar is not in" or "Bugger off" was the common thing said by his mental depiction of Jurgen…and the smell was excruciating. As much as I wished to barge in, J'onn couldn't maintain the bridge and we were kicked out.'

'So why did Ciaphas' health deteriorating?' Dinah challenged. 'He went into cardiac arrest five times!' Batman paused, his mask's eyes looking at Dinah's.

'I don't know.' Batman admitted, taking the anger from Dinah's sails.

'What?'

'I don't know.' He repeated. 'It shouldn't have deteriorated. I could only hypothesize that Ciaphas' subconscious noticed the attempt and subconsciously began the procedure of self-destruction. However, that is mere conjecture and based on how Amberley's mind opposed us.'

'And what about Magos and Gunner?' Wonder Woman queried.

'I hypothesize that Magos' cybernetic implants have prevented the poison from taking its effects.' Batman answered nonchalantly. 'Expected, though unfortunate. However, Ferik Jurgen is a mystery. The medicine had no effect on him. It surprised even the Martian Pharmacist and Psychologists. Jurgen, if anything, is a frustrating anomaly.'

'Why not put a meta-collar on him?' Captain Atom suggested, earning the glare from the Green Lanterns, Black Canary, and Green Arrow. 'What?'

'I already tried it.' Batman replied. 'Nothing.'

'Strange.'

'I thought so too.' Batman replied nonchalantly. 'Nonetheless, as their health deteriorated, I had no choice but to admit to my plot's failure and had the Team involved in a desperate attempt to wake Ciaphas and Amberley up.'

'It says here that Ciaphas woke up.' Diana remarked. 'But what of Amberley?'

'It is my belief that she was attempting to involve myself and J'onn in, alongside the Team, to deliver the death blow. When we become trapped within her mind, she will commit suicide and trap us within.'

'What makes you say that?' Shayera asked, eyes wide.

'From what the Team shared, she kept repeating, "I am Inquisitor Amberley Vail of His Majesty's Most Holy Inquisition, and you shall not break me".' Batman answered. 'When her mind subconsciously became aware that I was not coming, she tried to eliminate the Team, stating, "I am Inquisitor Amberley Vail of His Majesty's Most Holy Inquisition, and I shall do my duty" and tried to commit suicide.' He frowned. 'I was lucky that I was able to resuscitate her and save the Team. If not for Ciaphas Cain's involvement, Amberley would have given up and let the poison run its course.'

'Is that all?' Clark asked. Batman nodded.

'Right, then what should become of Bruce?' Clark pressed on. 'His actions are…reprehensible. A strategy that our enemies would use. All for the belief of finding information on said enemies. What is the decision of the League?' Dinah stood up.

'Batman must step down as leader of the Justice League, be put on probation, and jail time!' Dinah shot up. 'This is unacceptable! How can we put ourselves on a pedestal if we commit to such tactics.'

'I agree with stepping down and probation, but no jail time.' Captain Atom shot up. 'It the media finds out, it would be a significant blow to us and our image. We have to cover it up.'

'That is not justice!' Dinah retorted. 'We can't give ourselves exceptions just because he's one of us. We have to be moral actors! Never mind the politics!'

'Enough!' Bruce had enough. 'We're going in circles and I'll make the decision. I am stepping down as Leader of the Justice League, will be on probation, and house arrest. I will wear a tracker around my ankle and I am prohibited from hero work and working with the team until the time when the Justice League deems fit for me to commit to being Batman again.'

'Bruce!' Dinah protested. 'That isn't-'

'I am also adding that Black Canary to conduct psychological work on me and Superman to be my jailer.' He added. 'Anything else? No?' Bruce turns to Wonder Woman. 'Wonder Woman. Effective immediately, I am unfit to be Leader of the Justice League and stepping down. Until a time for elections to come-'

'You are to be put on probationary status and house arrest.' Wonder Woman continued. 'You will be checked on by Superman and must attend psychological therapy with Black Canary until a time the Justice League deems you fit enough to become a hero.' Batman nods, and takes Wonder Woman's seat and Diana Prince takes up the head. 'Now with Batman's disciplinary action having been settled, let's discuss the Alien incursions over the past year.'

'But-'

'Dinah. Please.' Diana sighed. 'Talk to me after.'

'Fine.' Wonder Woman sighed, shaking her head.

'Now then, about the alien incursions.' Diana Prince began. 'As we know, we have been getting guests. One from Tamaran, the second from Traugva, the current invasion of Genestealers, and a remark about this "Necron" tomb found on Le République de Vallée Verte. Before the Justice League first formed, we fought off the Apellaxian together. The invasion was overt, devoid of any strategy, and only served to make us stronger. Now? Our enemies have gone covert, just like our current foes. They infiltrate Earth, using all manners of coercion and secrecy to establish bases. If not for the actions of the Commissar, we wouldn't have discovered the Genestealers in time. Now that we know of their existence, we come across a problem. The Genestealers have gone further underground. To put simply, the Virus has undergone a lysogenic phase.'

'Ooh~ that's good.' Flash chuckled to himself. He shook his head. 'Anyways, how are we going to deal with them? I mean, we know how dangerous those things are, and we can't save the humans they infected.'

'Negotiations are not an option either.' John Stewart remarked. 'From the data I sent Oa, these Genestealers operate on a Hive Mind and that Hive Mind is hungry and it has a lot of kids to throw at us and eat us.'

'The Corps is going into High Alert.' Hal Jordan added. 'At this point, it is an extra-galactic crisis. We've been advising other planets on the fringes of the galactic arms to be on high alert as well…and preparing for the worse.'

'What of Earth's defences?' Shayera asked. 'Can we trust the Green Lantern Corps to come to our aid if we are invaded by the Genestealers?'

'...Oa is currently figuring out wargames to determine our best options.' John replied. 'Basically, we're on our own.'

'What? Why?' Katar wondered.

'We have, currently, three Green Lanterns here. Oa figured three Lanterns are enough.' Hal replied, smirking. 'I think we can take on a few body-snatchers.'

'I wouldn't be so cocky.' Dinah stood up, calmer now. 'According to the report Ciaphas gave us–and the file the Inquisitor acquiesced–the Genestealer's masters are masters at, for lack of a better word, bio-technology. Their ships are entirely biotic and even the smallest of their "bio-ships", these "Drones" are around 1.5 kilometres long.'

'I-Is that long?' Captain Marvel asked, hand raised and abashed.

'That's about 0.93 in freedom units.' Hal answered. 'I got you buddy.'

'Thanks man.' Captain Marvel said. 'But, here's the thing. These drone things. Just…how many can they make because if they can make a lot of them, well…I don't really like my chances at that. I mean, I got swarmed by angry bees before, and I just hit the hive on accident so…what I mean is-'

'We get the picture.' Oliver said, hand raised. 'Yeah, I don't like it either. If their smallest is that long, who knows how big the mother ship is?'

'Our best bet is to stop them from landing on Earth.' Superman remarked.

'Easier said than done.' Captain Atom sighed, shrugging. 'Infiltrators on Earth could wreck any Earth-based defences, maybe even cause big civil wars on Earth. While we focus on ending those peacefully, or violently, the Hive Fleet can show up when we're exhausted and wipe us out. And Mars would be next. A classic divide and conquer.'

'I had taken the liberty to inform the Martian Government of the existence of these Genestealers.' J'onn added. 'They consider it an Earth problem, but due to being a sister planet, they are building up whatever they can to assist us.'

'What do you think, Batman?' Clark asked, trying to bring Bruce into the conversation. Bruce huffed, frowning.

'I don't know.' Bruce admitted. 'I'm running through scenarios, none of which are good. Ideally, yes, we have to fight this Hive Fleet in space and prevent them from landing. But we lack the numbers and, inevitably, they will get through. Furthermore, the Genestealers can cause havoc on Earth and make the invasion easier for the enemy. And given the nature of the invasion, it can lead to governments agreeing to use their nuclear arsenal in an attempt to destroy as many as they can, denying assets to the enemy, etc. Overall, this is an apocalypse. This is our worst case scenario. Without reinforcements and outside help, we're done for.' He tapped the table a bit. 'I advise that we insist on more Green Lantern support, citing the incursions and invasions on Earth as a likely beach-head to drive deeper into the galaxy. Furthermore, we will have to negotiate with Starlabs to develop weapons designed to work against chitin and work under the guys of bug spray or electric bug zapper. We will have to do what we can to shut down Cadmus for good, considering their works in genetic engineering and bio-technology can only strengthen the enemy if they get their hold on one such facility. We will also have to make peace with the villains we imprisoned and press them-'

'Bruce!' Oliver groaned. 'C'mon man! You were doing so good!'

'I'm being realistic.' Bruce replied. 'These people are inexpendable and experienced, even if they are on the wrong side of the law. Everyone must fight. Children and teenagers and the elderly must be evacuated however. I am hoping Mars is open for refugees.' J'onn nodded.

'They will see reason.' Martian Manhunter remarked. 'There might be an extensive mind reading and medical examination, but I am certain they would open the doors for refugees.'

'I am in agreement with Batman.' Red Tornado remarked through its electric synthesized voice. 'Despite the odds, I have learnt that humans usually defy logical conclusions if they put their minds to it. Every little bit helps, as you would say.'

'Any optimistic estimates?' Hal remarked, sarcastic.

'That was my optimistic estimate.' Bruce stated. 'Worse case scenario, the Hive Fleet attacks both Earth and Mars in a single swoop. Neither can help the other, none can help us, and the Genestealers gain two planets instead of one.' He shook his head. 'Either way, this will become world-changing…and the Justice League will be irrevocably changed because of it.'

'A recess, before moving onto the next topic.' Wonder Woman interjected, allowing the Justice League to stand up and stretch out their legs.

The League returned to their seats, after getting a light breakfast, and they restarted their meeting once more. Wonder Woman has the chair, with Batman to the left and Superman to the right. The Amazon Princess stood up from her seat, ready.

'Thank you all for coming back.' She began. 'I understand that schedules require us to keep busy and on the lookout and I won't begrudge you for leaving. We will be recording this for personal review later.' Diana looked around once more. 'Right, then let us continue.' She brought up the hologram of four people: Leone Galante, Kwon Eun-Ha, Bane, and Amberley Vail (though with a question mark overtop her image). 'What information do we have about their possible safehouses?'

'Busan, New York, Chicago, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Milan, Venice, Sicily, and Santa Prisca for starters.' Oliver listed. 'I think the Koreans and The Commission are sharing America at the moment.'

'And Bane is probably supplying them with islands to deliver weapons offshore, especially the bigger stuff.' Batman remarked. 'As I said before-'

'That they can equip three regiments.' Hal reminded. 'Three thousand soldiers. Where did they get those numbers?'

'That is what concerns me.' Oliver said, tapping the keyboard. 'Three thousand soldiers, fully armed and equipped. Right under our noses. All of it quietly building up beneath our notice.' He looked at the others in the League. 'Listen, I'm not blaming anyone. Alliances like these don't last long, we all know that. Someone gets greedy, someone makes a mistake. But this? It's too coordinated. Someone else is supplying them.'

'You think it could be Luthor?' Clark asked, leaning in. 'I mean, the rhetoric from what the Team got from those we caught seems to be very xenophobic.'

'Possibly.' Batman replied, but shook his head. 'But Luthor prefers more human exceptionalism rather than outright murder. The rhetoric is highly anti-alien, genocidal even. And the only one that shares these views is one of four: Commissar Ciaphas Cain, Inquisitor Amberley Vail, Gunner First Class Ferik Jurgen, and Magos Felciia Tayber.' He hums. 'I suspect it was more a reaction to when we discovered that Traugva base back in November of last year. Now that the existence of Genestealers are present, they are using this as justification to ramp up their efforts.'

'Are you suggesting that all four are complicit?' Dinah asked, shocked. 'Wait, I thought you said the poisoning-' Her tone took a biting edge. 'Bruce!'

'I believe so.' Batman stated. 'At least, with the Inquisitor as the obvious leader, the Commissar being the morale officer, and Magos conducting maintenance and logistics.' Leaving the obvious unsaid.

'Damn it Bruce!' Dinah slammed her fist on the console.

'Enough.' Diana's voice hardened. 'Batman. Black Canary. You are excused from this meeting. Work this out, now.'

The Watchtower

September 27th, 2010

Approximately 6:23 AM

Dinah Lance was pacing in front of Bruce Wayne, the latter simply sitting behind the table and eating a sandwich. Suffice to say, they found another meeting room across the Watchtower. It was a long day coming, but now was as good a time as any.

'Bruce. Damn you and your damned pigheadedness.' Dinah finally let out in one long sigh. Her anger, her biting tone no longer present. Just exhaustion. 'Damn it. Why? What possessed you to go to such extremes like that? If you had suspicions, you could have gone to us, the League, hell even Alfred. We could have found another way that didn't involve poisoning them.'

'Because it wouldn't be enough.' Bruce stated. 'I know myself. I know I wouldn't break from simple interrogation. The only way I think my plan could work is if you catch me by surprise and with something foreign. That is where I went to J'onn. Like I said, I tested it on myself. It worked perfectly. I never suspected a thing. As such, I had to readjust to my target's physical age.' He sighed. 'It was foolproof.'

'But when things started to go wrong.' Dinah left the other part unsaid. 'But poisoning? Didn't you swear not to kill? Didn't we all promise not to kill?'

'We did.' Bruce snarled. 'And I had confirmed it with the Martians time and time again to ensure it didn't happen. I tested it on myself. It should not have killed them.' He looked directly into her eyes, mask off. 'It should not have killed them. Their bodies reacted to the mental invasion. According to J'onn and the Martians, it was as if they were trained to encounter these attacks. If not to repel invaders, but to invite them in and self destruct. They are willing to die. Anyone that is facing death will react strongly, showing everything they got…before going out on their terms. That is what scares me. That is why Amberley frightens me. She is like me.'

'But you aren't sorry.' Dinah looked into his eyes. 'You aren't sorry you poisoned them.'

'No.'

'Why?'

'Because it was for the League's protection.' Bruce replied. 'In any event that any one of us turns bad, including myself, we must do anything to ensure our incapacitation. In the scenario where I go bad, the Justice League itself is my contingency. All of you are to face off against me because it is something so foreign, so overwhelming, so surprising that it will be enough to take me down. Same principle applies.'

'Don't you think you are projecting onto Amberley?' Dinah suggested, tone hardening. 'Surely you can see that she isn't you. She is her own person.'

'No.' Batman stated.

'No, as in you agree with me or no as in you disagree.' Batman frowned.

'Both. Amberley is, in essence, has a psychological profile like me, but more devious, villainous, and downright amoral. She is me at my prime if I were ever to go against what's right. She is every worst aspect of me that I can have.' Batman clenched his fists. 'I had to be unpredictable, and the League causes too much noise. I needed to be discreet.'

'But this…Bruce.' Dinah palmed her face. 'What if you were wrong? What if Amberley isn't like that; if Amberley isn't the mastermind for the criminal alliance; if Amberley isn't the traitor in our midst?'

'Then I am wrong.' Batman shrugged.

'Oh no, don't you shrug at me.' Dinah hissed, her anger returning. 'Damn it Bruce, don't you see-'

'I do.' Bruce snapped back. 'Now, Amberley is more weary and more willing to hide vital information from the League. She has become much more dangerous because of my failed gambit. What's worse, she'll just keep using Ciaphas as a shield until the time comes to throw him away.'

'Or you could prevent all that and apologize.' Dinah suggested.

'I don't think I did anything wrong.' Bruce stated. 'Like I said, it was necessary. My gut tells me she is responsible, misusing League resources, building up a private army for whatever purpose. Nevermind the infiltration of Genestealers. I gambled in an effort to find what was wrong. I lost the gamble. And I am going to treat her accordingly.'

'And that is?'

'An enemy.'

'Bruce!' Dinah said, aghast.

'Better an enemy close to me.' Bruce replied hastily. He let out a sigh. 'Better an enemy close to me and within sight.'

'Damn it Bruce, you are such a-' She let out a deep breath. 'Either way, you are no longer issuing briefings for the Team and we will be having these talks in the future.'

'I am going to warn you.' Bruce said. "Keep an eye on them.'

'I intend to, Bruce.' Dinah replied. 'But not the way you think. The Team is off missions for the time being for psychological therapy.'

'What do you think of Amberley? Of Ciaphas?' Black Canary turned to face Bruce Wayne.

Mount Justice, Happy Harbor

October 2nd, 2010

Black Canary sat before the individual members of the Team. It's been five days since their incursions into Ciaphas' and Amberley's mind. Dinah had a feeling, an inkling, but the moment when Connor said he had enough and how she didn't understand a single thing about how he felt, well, it was answer enough for her how her day is going to go.

'Look, Cain and Amberley dying during this attempted poisoning thing just seems like a them problem.' Artemis remarked. 'They should be here, sitting with you instead of little ole' me.'

'And yet, you seem to take it the hardest when Cain either "kills" your friends, or has an army at his beck-and-call to shoot at you.' Dinah notes. 'Incursions 15C, to be more exact, when Cain gutted you. Or Incursion 20A, when Amberley snapped your neck. You seemed to be the most shocked when Cain kills you.'

'You can't tell Wally that.' She waved offhand. Dinah ignored the comment, for now.

'So why Cain?' She pressed on. 'What makes Cain the most shocking?'

'...unlike the others on the Team, he gets me.' Artemis sighed. 'He knows my secret, but keeps it. He believed me when I told him I suspected Amberley. He saved my mom.' The young blonde looked at the older heroine. 'How could I not look at him and feel shocked he would kill me?'

'He's your hero, in a way.' She asked, rhetorically.

'Don't let him hear you say that.' Artemis chuckled. 'He'd go into the whole "Oh, I was only doing my duty" routine.' She sniffed. Black Canary smiled.

'How would you describe Ciaphas?'

'He's just a really good guy.'

Black Canary's interactions with Wally were, well, Wally being Wally.

'So, even after you got torn up, going up in a fiery blaze, and got shot at by lasers and rockets…' She ended the charade. 'You're peachy.'

'Well, I wouldn't say peachy.' He drawled, popping popcorn into his mouth. 'But you got the gist.'

'Uh huh.' She said, unconvincingly. 'So, no comment on when Amberley hung Artemis in a city square?' Ah, there's the reaction. Wally was coughing out a kernel.

'Uh, I'd rather talk about you babe~'

'Right, well, let's try something different.' Black Canary leaned in. 'How would you describe Ciaphas?'

'...He's a hero.' Wally said, his tone more somber. 'Ciaphas is, has…he never once tried to overrule us, show us up, or even try to take over. He had always encouraged us. I…he…If I can take just a bit of him and put him into myself then…maybe I can be worthy for Artemis to-' His eyes shot open. "Nevermind. So, anything else?'

Of course, she had to censor out much of Starfire's therapy session. Dinah rubbed her eyes and groaned as the Tamaranean kept on talking on and on about–

'Oh, and look at his form. Oh Ciaphas~ My mate~ When I get you I will [Censored] [Censored] [Censored] [Censored] [Censored] you until you won't get up from the [Censored] [Censored] [Censored] [Censored] [Censored] and then you will do me next and [Censored] [Censored] [Censored] [Censored] and then-'

Never again will Black Canary ask her. Starfire is cleared from any further sessions.

'What do I think of Ciaphas?' Kaldur repeated, leaning back on his seat, smiling. 'He is the best man I know, more than what he thinks of himself.'

'Oh?' Dinah pressed on. 'Even though he-'

'Including his xenophobia.' Kaldur said. 'If anything, it makes him human. He says his xenophobic rhetoric out of fear, not hatred. He grew up in this Imperium. And yet, he turns fear into insurmountable courage.'

'What makes you think he thinks less of himself?' Dinah asked.

'He always disguises his motives for heroism with reason and logic.' He guessed. 'Even he doesn't know why he does things at times. At least, that was my impression of his actions and what I felt in his mind. Easily frightened, yet courageous nonetheless.' Kaldur stared into Dinah's eyes. 'He has never let me down, and he never will.'

'Ciaphas is…kind of sad.' M'gann said after a moment. 'At least, from what little I glimpsed in his mind.' She leaned back into the chair. 'He has regrets. Sometimes thinking of a different life. Sometimes thinking about Jurgen and his safety. Sometimes thinking of Amberley. He's just…always thinking and sad.'

'Does he ever strike you as depressed?' Dinah queried, an eyebrow raised.'Any thoughts of suicide?'

'Nothing like that.' Miss Martian admitted. 'Just full of regrets. I don't think he has many friends.'

'Interesting.' Black Canary remarked. 'It seems he is on speaking terms with the Team. Does he not consider you friends?'

'Well, I think he is uneasy with me.' M'gann answered. 'It's probably the mind-meld. He never accepted it, and does his best to avoid it. I think it's a past trauma he's reacting to.'

'Did you feel hurt whenever he killed you?' Dinah asked, pushing straight to the point. 'Especially Incursion 38C where he used a flamethrower?'

'I mean, I did but it was his mind reacting to a foreign invader.' M'gann explained. 'I felt that, with how badly he reacted to the meld, it was an untreated trauma.' She shook her head. 'Why didn't anyone help him with it?'

'Commissar?' Robin asked rhetorically. 'I say he lacks confidence.'

'A bit of a harsh assessment.' Dinah remarked.

'He deflects his accomplishments.' He pointed out. 'Always claims that he was only doing his duty or something. And not to forget Santa Prisca…where I messed up.'

'How did Ciaphas' mind feel to you?' She asked. 'It must have been troubling.'

'Troubling?' His mirthless chuckle echoed. 'Try traumatizing. The hate, the xenophobia, the atrocities of the soldiers around Ciaphas. His fellow Commissars executing their own soldiers. It was disgusting. And for what? Against enemies of the state? And that was Cain's life throughout, or at least how he felt. It was suffocating, and yet he managed to remain even-tempered.' He huffed. 'It's admirable in a way. To be so even-tempered in a society that demands fanaticism. I guess that explains the lack of confidence.'

'Do you trust him?'

'No, I don't.' Robin said, raising a hand. 'And before you ask, Batman taught me that. His single-mindedness on the mission, that doggedness, the doubts. All taught by him and I learnt real quickly. It's a habit. I don't trust Ciaphas. But Kaldur does, so that's good enough for me…for now.'

The Watchtower

September 27th, 2010

Approximately 6:23 AM

Dinah stood from her seat, looking down at Batman.

'I get that your paranoia is running rampant Bruce.' She began. 'I get it. You need to feel in control, that those four are variables and it is an itch you need to relieve. I get it. But I am going to tell you this. I trust them. I have faith in them. Those four are not bad. Ciaphas Cain is, by far, the most open-minded person I met. And that's speaking for his position as a political officer for a genocidal, human-centric, extradimensional, galactic empire. He is cooperative, courageous, courteous, and a clever man. His only problem is confidence. He is stuck to believe that his best traits are cowardly and worth condemnation.' Black Canary turns to the glass that was overseeing Earth. 'Amberley Vail is like you, or rather your daughter. Yes, you may see only her bad traits, but she also possesses your good ones too. Amberley is dedicated to the mission, thoughtful, strategic, diplomatic, and the pinnacle of human fitness. You are only looking for the bad traits, myopic of the good. You fear her because she is you. Even you admit it. It's natural that you fear yourself, especially when all you see is your bad traits. But you have to overcome it, to look up, and embrace who you are too.'

Black Canary retook her seat. 'So, to make a long answer short, Bruce.' She sighed. 'I trust them to do the right thing. You gotta have faith.'

Deserts of Bialya

September 27th, 2010

It was chaos!

The Bialyan military was in full retreat, soldiers quickly jumping onto the trucks or whatever was left. The enemy was cruel, barbaric, and wanted nothing more than to cause chaos. There was no stopping them! A Captain crawled on the desert, the battle leaving him down a leg and trying to reach.

'No, no!' He screamed, the truck pulling away at the last moment. 'Come back!' Before the alien enemy's vicious razor-sharp blade smashed through his back.

'Stoopid humie.' The greenskin snorted, fixing it's goggles over its red, beady eyes. It grinned, staring at the motherload of scrap for him and his Kommandos.

'WWWWWWWAAAAAAAAAAGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHH!'

AN: Merry Christmas Everyone! Thank you all for reading and your patience. I hope this was worth the wait. For now, to a Good Christmas and a Wonderful New Year!