"Amanda Waller?"
"How the hell did you get into the Watchtower?" Hal Jordan asked in shock, reflecting aloud about the question all the heroes were wondering.
"It's none of your business." Waller replied sharply without even sparing the hero a glance, which annoyed him. As she advanced she reached into her pockets, grabbed what appeared to be a sheet of paper and handed it to Batman. "From this point forward Renegade is under the jurisdiction of the United States government. He is no longer your problem."
The heroes crowded around the Caped Crusader trying to read the paper in his hand. "What does it say?" Green Arrow asked, having a bad feeling about this.
His feeling was mirrored by his teammates who exchanged unconvinced glances.
"This is an arrest warrant signed by the USA president himself against Renegade." Waller replied, preceding the Gotham vigilante. "So hand over the prisoner to me and we won't have any problems."
"You can't do that!" Wonder Woman growled, taking a menacing step towards the black woman. "The Justice League does not operate under USA jurisdiction or any other state worldwide, so we are under no obligation to deliver Renegade to you!"
Amanda stared back at the Amazon without ever wavering. "Since you captured Renegade on USA soil, it automatically becomes our jurisdiction."
"How did you know we were able to capture Renegade after such a short time?" Zatanna asked, narrowing her eyes with suspicion and wariness.
"I have my sources." the older woman replied with a mysterious smile.
"Why all the rush in wanting Renegade?" Martian Manhunter asked warily.
"Getting to the point where the president of the USA himself wants Renegade behind bars." Flash added helpfully.
It was as if a light bulb went on in Diana's head. "Ever since Renegade began his career you have been trying to capture him." she stated slowly, remembering her friend's words during their pleasant chat after the terrorist attack on the UN. "Let me guess: the USA government is desperate to keep Renegade under control because he has always been out of your control, operating on other continents as much as he does in America."
"We can't let him continue to do whatever the fuck he wants all over the world." Amanda stated in an emotionless voice, implicitly confirming the demigoddess theory. "If it were up to me it would have been even better if Renegade had died once and for all but this solution is better than nothing." she concluded with an indifferent shrug.
Wonder Woman clenched her fists, feeling anger fill every fiber of her being at Waller's so casual tone, as if she were talking about a movie instead of having just confessed that she wanted Renegade dead. She took deep breaths in an exceptional proof of self-control. "Like when you involved hundreds of USA agents, dozens of military helicopters and about twenty snipers but your attempt failed miserably and Renegade totally humiliated you live worldwide?" she asked innocently, smiling when she saw a flash of fury and annoyance briefly flash across Amanda's usually composed and stoic features. "Nice way to use your government's resources, don't you think?"
The woman glared at her before smiling slowly. "What would the entire world think if they ever found out that the notorious and powerful Wonder Woman is good friends with a ruthless mercenary and assassin like Renegade?" she said in a fake sappy and sweet voice. "I could also have you arrested for complicity since you had multiple opportunities to capture Renegade but never did."
The demigoddess perfectly hid the shock and surprise at her words behind a stoic and impassive expression that she perfected thanks to the princess education that her mother gave her. She just raised an eyebrow. "Violent riots and demonstrations against the USA government would likely break out as both Renegade and I are supported by so many millions of people around the world." she sent her a smirk. "That and you'd be up against the entire Justice League and most of the top supervillains and assassins. I don't know how much it's worth it for you."
Waller stared back at the super-heroine for a few seconds before grunting, looking away first and ignoring the smug and victorious expression of the centenarian woman. "I don't have all the time in the world. Give me Renegade and let's put an end to this story."
Suddenly an eerie cackle rang out throughout the area, sending shivers of terror through everyone present.
Diana had never been happier to hear that damn creepy laugh.
They all turned at the same time and to their immense shock and surprise they met the smug and satisfied gaze of Renegade who had taken back all his weapons and gloves.
"How the hell did you manage to escape all those restrictions?" Black Canary stammered in shock and horror with wide eyes. "In such a short time, too!"
The young assassin's smirk grew in size. "I told you I would be able to escape." he stated with a casual shrug. "I'm honestly offended that you think it takes so little to stop me." he said, smiling at Diana and Zatanna's amused snorts.
"That's why that boy has my respect and esteem." Hawkgirl nodded in the direction of Deathstroke's former apprentice, smiling slightly when he sent her a smile and finger guns.
The Talon's gaze shifted to the person who was definitely not part of the JL. "Waller! We haven't seen each other since I humiliated you live worldwide!" he chuckled at the woman's deathly gaze and if she possessed heat vision, he would already be ash. "Unfortunately for you, I'm quite busy and don't feel like going to Belle Reve. Maybe next time, what do you think?"
"What the hell is Task Force X?"
The sudden question forced everyone to stare at Batman who was glaring at Amanda Waller, the arrest warrant still in his hands. Diana thought that most likely during the entire discussion he continued to read the document while part of his attention was focused on the conversation.
She didn't like the satisfied smile Amanda had on her lips at all. "It is a team made up of supervillains chosen by the USA government to carry out the most dangerous and suicidal missions, hence the alternative name of Suicide Squad, and in exchange their sentences are reduced. If they survive, of course." she added with an emotionless giggle that made some heroes uncomfortable.
"I doubt that supervillains willingly agree to complete missions for the government of their own free will." Black Canary pointed out helpfully.
"In fact they are forced." Amanda clasped her hands behind her back, her smirk becoming even more sinister and cold. "We plant bombs in the heads of supervillains and threaten to blow them up if they don't obey."
Silence.
The heroes and Renegade had completely shocked, horrified and disgusted looks at the black woman's words. Diana's chest heaved with terror, horror and nausea as she felt ice rush through her veins, her heart skipping a beat in fear.
They want this for Renegade too. They want to plant a bomb in his head to force him to complete suicide missions for the USA government against his own will.
This filled every fiber of her being with absolute fury and fear, knowing that one of the things Renegade held dearest was free will: free will that he would inevitably lose -again- to these assholes. The thought of a bomb being planted in her friend's head and Waller with a fucking remote control threatening to blow him up if he didn't do what she wanted sent shivers down her spine.
No person should have such control over another person, especially not Amanda Waller and certainly not over Renegade.
It completely disgusted her how Waller maintained a conversational and indifferent tone, despite it was one of the most disgusting and horrifying things she had ever heard.
"You can't do that! It is a complete violation of fundamental human rights!" Batman growled fiercely, shooting a cold glare at the woman from the American federal government.
If even Batman, who is becoming more and more of an asshole every day due to the darkness that is consuming him from within, disagrees with such treatment of people/criminals, then the situation is worse than one might expect.
"The project is authorized by the USA president himself." Amanda stated with a shrug.
"Still he has no right to violate the fundamental rights of human beings in such a disgusting and horrible way." Flash spat venomously, literally vibrating with anger.
Diana had rarely seen the speedster this agitated and angry but given how he genuinely cared about most of his villains, she wasn't that surprised.
"How long has this project been around?" Superman asked in a shocked and horrified whisper, finally speaking for the first time.
"For a few months."
A low, inhuman growl caught everyone's attention and it shifted to Renegade, his body vibrating with rage as his masked eyes stared at Amanda with such intensity that it seemed as if he wanted to rip her soul out with his bare hands.
The demigoddess had never personally seen the young assassin so angry and never witnessed his murderous fury but she already knew that he was one step away from literally tearing Waller to shreds in such a way that only the examination of her DNA could identify her.
And honestly Diana wasn't going to stop him: Waller deserved the worst.
"Who's on the team?"
"King Shark. Deadshot. Captain Boomerang." out of the corner of her eye, Diana noticed Flash's horrified gasp. "Harley Quinn. Killer Croc. Enchantress."
Diana swore she heard Renegade's teeth chattering loudly at the mention of the last three criminals. The situation threatened to escalate and worsen when Renegade pulled out one of his pistols, pointing it firmly at the black woman's head as the other heroes tensed. "Give me one good reason why I shouldn't blow your brains out right now." he growled, the white slits of his red mask narrowing as it seemed as if shadows began to envelop his form, making his aura even more menacing and dangerous than it already was.
Wonder Woman reluctantly had to give Waller credit for the fact that she showed no terror or fear towards the mercenary, one of the scariest, toughest, most dangerous people Diana herself had ever met in her entire life. "Because if I don't meet my agents within a certain period they will blow the heads of your friends from the Suicide Squad." she stated calmly and composedly, a twinkle in her eyes. "You don't want to be responsible for the deaths of your friends and future teammates, do you?"
Renegade gritted his teeth but against his current greatest desire -which was to make Amanda Waller regret even being born- he holstered his gun, simply staring at her with his most murderous gaze.
The reminder that Renegade would be forced to join the Suicide Squad hit Wonder Woman hard and she gave the black woman a hard look. "I won't let Renegade join your fucking team or even take him to Belle Reve." she stated solemnly, positioning herself protectively at Renegade's side and her chest fluttered pleasantly at the small smile the young assassin gave her.
Whatever reaction the heroes and the mercenary expected from the directory of the supervillain penitentiary, she who burst out laughing was certainly not among them. Everyone looked at each other with extreme confusion and caution. "What's so funny?" Aquaman asked slowly and with obvious suspicion.
"Do you really think we would move Renegade to Belle Reve?" she asked rhetorically once she calmed down. "He would escape of there in less than twenty-four hours."
Diana kicked Renegade's right leg lightly as she saw a smug, proud smile on his lips and his preening attitude, rolling her eyes affectionately at his silent giggle.
"Where will you take him, then?" Martian Manhunter asked with a slight frown on his face, his intense red eyes fixed on the woman.
The Amazon waited with bated breath for her response, her heart pounding with concern for her mercenary friend.
"In a maximum security facility of the A.R.G.U.S. Not even Renegade will be able to escape from there."
Diana frowned, not recognizing the location. She whirled around when she heard Renegade's almost imperceptible gasp and stared at him, longing to remove that damned mask that prevented her from understanding his real emotions. "What is this about?" she asked him, easily sensing that the mercenary knew what Waller was talking about.
For a few seconds it seemed as if he hadn't heard her, which was practically impossible given his enhanced hearing, and his gaze was directly on Amanda's smirk. Only then Renegade slowly move his head, looking at the demigoddess with an indecipherable gaze due to that damned mask.
"Compared to this, Belle Reve is nothing to the maximum security facilities of the A.R.G.U.S. There is the worst of the worst, the greatest and most absolute scum of humanity. Each of them is so enormous that they each contain many hundreds of criminals with no moral or ethical restrictions towards anything or anyone. There are serial killers, pedophiles, rapists, traffickers of children, organs and human beings, depraved and mentally ill people. None of them would hesitate to sell, rape, torture or kill their parents, friends, innocents or children if it meant lessening their prison sentence even slightly. They are the most dangerous and scary criminals in the entire world because they have nothing to lose and because they have no shred of humanity or morality in them." Renegade explained in a stoic and composed voice, his body more still than a statue.
A horrified, shocked, tense silence spread throughout the Watchtower.
A feeling of pure panic, horror and nausea filled every cell in Wonder Woman's body and she felt numb and dizzy at the mere thought that Renegade will practically have to live with literally the worst people in the entire world.
This feeling increased when she studied the young assassin more carefully, realizing that at that moment he was wearing a metaphorical mask that hid his true feelings.
While it wasn't actually a feeling of fear and panic, it was the closest thing to it that she had ever seen in Renegade and that she never thought she would ever see in him.
For all his danger, experience, brutality, ruthlessness, efficiency, lethality and despite his title as the world's second best assassin and mercenary, Renegade was only seventeen, something she often tended to forget as there was seemingly no such thing which he was unable to do. Not only that but also the fact that he had most likely already been through hell once and would have to go through it a second time.
And that was enough to terrify Diana to death and make her feel the most unpleasant and unwelcome emotions she had ever felt in her entire long life.
"You used me!" Batman growled ferociously, drawing everyone's attention. "You are the person who sent Commissioner Gordon the anonymous note indicating Renegade's possible sensory weaknesses!" he ended up clenching his fists tightly, hating the idea of being used by Waller.
"A point to the best detective in the world." Amanda gave a cold laugh. "Your obsession with Renegade has worked in my favor, Batman. So I thank you for doing the dirty work for me." she scoffed with a smirk, not intimidated by the Gotham vigilante's growl.
Diana was shocked at how Waller deceived even the Dark Knight himself and reluctantly had to admit that the black woman had played her cards well.
"Y-you can't send Renegade there!"
The princess of Themyscira's head snapped to the side, her heart leaping into her throat and her limbs growing even heavier as she noticed the look of absolute terror, panic and shock in Zatanna's eyes with her face paler than usual.
"Renegade only killed their kind! Almost a thousand of them! T-the first thing those mentally ill people would do once they know that Renegade is there with them is to team up with each other to make him live through the worst hell ever!"
If Diana was already on the verge of getting sick in every way, now it was as if that feeling had been multiplied by a hundred.
Zatanna was right.
Renegade would find himself completely alone against many hundreds of prisoners with no mercy and moral restrictions and, although he would have an advantage if he were fully equipped in his mercenary identity, this would not be the case as he would have no weapons or armor and would be also taken away his superhuman abilities.
Not even he in those conditions would have been able to defend himself against all the scum on the planet.
They would not hesitate to beat, torture, break and rape Renegade countless times and it would give them more sick pleasure given that he was Deathstroke's former apprentice and the current second best assassin and mercenary in the world.
Just the thought of it made nausea and bile rise in her and she reflexively swallowed it, shivering as she felt a cold shiver of terror, worry and fear creep up her spine.
Waller shrugged casually but the cold gleam in her eyes gave her away. "It's not my problem."
A flash of the purest and most absolute form of determination, fury and anger filled every fiber of Diana's being, her eyes becoming harder than steel. The most intense and ferocious anger clawed at her chest, begging for release against the bitch who intended to hurt, break and kill her friend, one of the best people she has ever met.
"I'll only tell you this once." Wonder Woman began by taking a menacing step forward, her gaze deadly and murderous and her blue eyes glowing fiercely with danger with hellish flames dancing in them. "Leave Renegade alone. Otherwise I'll make you regret every fucking decision in your miserable life. Do you understand?" she growled dangerously, ignoring the surprised and shocked looks from her teammates.
Amanda snorted derisively. "Just when I'm so close to giving that son of a bitch what he deserves? Not by any chance." her emotionless eyes fell on the young mercenary who glared back. "I bet you will willingly surrender and be transferred to the A.R.G.U.S maximum security facility without objection."
"Threatening the lives of your fucking team members?" Renegade crossed his arms, a note of warning and danger in his voice. "You don't want to kill them all at all, do you think? Because otherwise you would have to spend more resources and time finding more supervillains and I doubt your superiors will be happy about it."
"In fact I have another card to play. A much more efficient one." Amanda spoke calmly, a slow smirk forming between her lips as her eyes shone coldly.
Her gaze fell on each hero present and what she spoke next filled them all, including Renegade, with pure shock and horror.
"Arthur Curry. J'onn J'onzz. Shayera Hol. Zatanna Zatara. Dinah Lance. Oliver Queen. Barry Allen. Hal Jordan. Diana Prince. Clark Kent. Bruce Wayne."
Waller fully enjoyed the look of pure horror, shock and anger from the heroes, especially the Dark Knight whose true identity was literally the biggest secret in the world that took her years to discover, unlike the others who were definitely easier to discover.
"H-how the hell do you know our true identities?" Superman stuttered in fear and horror.
"The A.R.G.U.S. is literally the best federal agency in the world. There is very little we don't know." Waller replied smugly. Her gaze fell on Renegade who was frozen in place, also shocked by the situation. "I give you a free choice, Renegade. Or turn yourself peacefully to the A.R.G.U.S. and the identities of the heroes will remain secret or you can continue to be free but their identities will be revealed to the whole world in seconds.
"It will be your fault if anything happens to their loved ones. For example Lois Lane, Jimmy Olsen, Martha and Jonathan Kent, Alfred Pennyworth, Lucius Fox, Iris West-Allen, Carol Ferris, Roy Harper, Wally West and more. You know there are many villains who would like to take revenge on the heroes. What better way than to take it out on those who matter most to them?"
"Don't you dare threaten my adopted son, you bitch!" Green Arrow growled dangerously, clenching his fists.
"Now you threaten the heroes who have saved your own planet countless times?" Flash shook his head with disgust and disappointment, vibrating with anger as soon as she mentioned his nephew.
"What a great way to thank us for our hard work." Hawkgirl spat venomously, swinging her mace at the black woman in threat.
"Aren't you even a little ashamed of your petty and deplorable threats? Many innocent lives would be at stake."
"Not even in the slightest." Amanda answered Martian Manuhnter's question honestly. "I will not hesitate to carry out what I or my superiors want, no matter what. Even more so if it involves eliminating Renegade from circulation. And don't think about killing me, Renegade. There are A.R.G.U.S. agents who are currently monitoring my vital signs and if anything were to happen to me they have orders to publish the identities of the entire Justice League online."
With a silent growl, Wonder Woman's attention shifted from Waller to her side, observing her unusually silent friend. She already knew what decision Renegade would make and while she would much rather reveal her identity to the world than have him fall into the hands of the federal government, she knew she couldn't do that.
One thing was just her identity and while she would most likely lose her job at the UN if it ever became known that a superhero had been mixed up in international affairs for years, that wouldn't have mattered much to her.
The only thing that mattered was the safety of the young assassin.
Another thing though was the identities of others who needed more privacy than she needed because they had many more loved ones to protect and keep safe.
It wouldn't be right to ask her teammates to make this huge sacrifice for Renegade and she couldn't do this to them, no matter how selfishly she wanted him to be safe.
She watched as Renegade took a step forward, her heart shattering as she watched him place his hands peacefully behind his head. "I give up. But promise me that the identities of the Justice League will remain confidential."
Diana was deeply moved and impressed by how Renegade's primary concern was still keeping the JL safe, despite the fact that he would soon end up in a living hell. She had met few people in her entire life who mirrored Renegade's kindness, thoughtfulness and goodness: she could count them on one hand and one of them was the antihero himself.
The princess of Themyscira noticed the shocked and surprised looks of her team in front of Renegade's sacrifice -Zatanna excluded: the sorceress had a sad smile and clearly expected such a move from the young assassin- and she felt the impulse to hit them one by one, damn them.
How the hell can't you see what I see in Renegade? His true nature? His kindness, goodness, thoughtfulness, his heart of gold, his altruism? About how is he one of the best people in the world? About how does he continue to sacrifice himself for us and the entire world over and over again?
"I promise." Amanda nodded sharply. "This information is reserved exclusively for me and the director of the A.R.G.U.S. No one else has access to this kind of information."
Renegade let out a small but genuine sigh of relief. "Okay, then." he simply stated and sighed in defeat. "You win, Waller."
Diana felt her eyes sting and ignored the sensation, preferring to clench her fists in fierce anger until she felt her nails dig into the skin of her hands, ignoring the warm liquid bathing her skin.
If there was one thing she hated infinitely it was the feeling of being helpless and she had never felt such a sensation to such intensity.
She gasped as she saw Waller hand Renegade an inhibitor collar and she hated how her friend didn't hesitate even slightly in putting it around his neck. Her heart nearly exploded with worry when she saw him fall to his knees with a grunt and she quickly reached him. "Renegade!"
"I-I'm fine, Princess." Renegade stated through gritted teeth, which didn't ease her worries at all. "The transition from undead to normal human is-" he grimaced. "-pretty annoying. Nothing I-" another grimace. "-can't handle."
This made sense but she still didn't like it at all.
The demigoddess helped him to his feet, feeling slightly lighter when Renegade sent her a small, grateful smile. "Thank you, Princess."
Diana felt a lump form in her throat at the mere thought of the intensity of the sacrifice that he was making for her and for the Justice League and that almost no one would have made, preventing her from speaking. She swallowed and managed to give him a shaky smile, the burning sensation in her eyes increasing slightly.
Renegade's posture and gaze softened and he was about to speak -knowing him and his caring nature, Diana bet that he wanted to comfort her even though he was the one who technically should have been comforted- but was preceded by the sharp, thick voice of Waller's derision.
"Stop it, lovebirds. I don't have all the time in the world."
The two rolled their eyes at the same time and ignored her. Renegade gave the demigoddess one last light smile that tugged painfully at her heartstrings. Her heart sank as the anti-hero turned, following Waller as she approached the zeta tubes that lit up about few minutes after the black woman began typing on the keypad.
Wonder Woman was drawn to the small smile Renegade gave her and that was the last thing she saw before the light enveloped them.
Recognized: Unknown
Recognized: Unknown
Diana painfully closed her eyes and the mental image of Renegade and his final smile that he gave her in a reassuring way, as if he were about to be escorted to the gallows -which was an apt simile given where he would be sent- it was enough to make her let out a slight sob.
The Amazon had run out of mental and emotional energy and it was as if everything overwhelmed her as the sense of emptiness, loss and defeat accumulated in her chest, consuming her.
Diana fell to her knees, still with her back to her teammates, and a solitary tear fell from her watery blue eyes, devoid of the usual proud and resolute light that always accompanied them.
I'm so sorry, Renegade. I'm so sorry.