Life Ore Death
** Episode 46 ___ Sequelae
* July 8 [Ferris PoV]
Given the last few days, I would have readily and happily admitted to being a wreck when I finally went off-duty and fell into bed at three in the afternoon, yesterday. I had been tapping my bronze-mind because I hadn't slept since—'
It's under control, I'm free, I'm okay, I'm free, I'm reasonably safe, it's all under control,' I repeated mentally—since my teammates broke me free from that trap due to running damage control (both globally and in Gotham), emergency rescue operations, and mind-control checks without a break, but the Wonder Woman had taken a look at me when we met at noon in DC for a mind-control check and had firmly ordered me to bed.
I almost fought her on it, until she informed me that the bureaucracies had since 'cut through the red tape,' meaning both militaries and professional relief efforts were already underway.
With that established, I ceded the point, offered her use of the Globe of Transportation until we were less busy (she declined, so I gave it back to Aqualad again), and spent a little bit tidying up the last few details around Dick and Jason's home before collapsing into a guest bedroom there.
I woke up at 5 in the morning, Gotham time, and set to checking everything in the estate that I could with Motherbox's aid.
Harold something-something was resting in his bed in the servant's quarters, two doors down from where I had collapsed to sleep. His worst wounds were his fingers/hands, so he did not need to be kept longer in a hospital, provided he had help with eating, etc.
The Batman—I was certain I'd heard his name at least three times, but I had failed to retain the information—remained unconscious in the ground floor room that had been converted to a non-cave medical facility. Motherbox scanned him from the hallway and assured me that he remained stable, while reiterating that even with her assistance it was best to let him awaken naturally, on his body's own schedule.
Talia remained asleep in her seat by the Batman's bedside, recovered all but emotionally from recent events (barring the sadly irrecoverable aspect of her situation), as evidenced by her tearstained cheeks. She did not immediately stir when I peered through the cracked door, and I withdrew before my presence could wake her, as she would likely react with violence, given the knife in her hand.
A-something-name Pennyworth (the butler/steward of the estate,) and Alice two-syllable-name (the maid/tech designer,) were both stable and expected to make full recoveries when I asked Motherbox to hack the records and security cameras of the hospital where they were staying.
Dick, Jason, M'gann, and Wally—I optimistically assumed Artemis had been awake and lucid enough to irately bar him from her hospital room at some point yesterday—were all piled together in either Dick's or Jason's bedroom; M'gann stirred and made eye-contact with me when I checked them, but we silently agreed that she would do best remaining with them and sleeping a little longer.
The mortuary listed in the Batman's records still had the bodies I had left in their keeping when Motherbox checked their systems, thus I moved to checking the others on the Team.
Artemis, I was pleasantly surprised to find, had been moved from emergency care at some point; her tracker put her with Conner and Zatanna at Mt. Justice, and when I checked the security systems they were also piled together protectively with Wolf.
Joey and Garth were listed at one safehouse, presumably with the other Wilsons.
Raquel and Tula were in Dakota City, thus I presumed Tula was similarly providing security to the Ervine family.
Barbara and Karen were with Kaldur in Karen's home, but Kaldur was awake and had sent me a message: an invitation to an upcoming meeting.
I read it, checked the time, and typed a reply that I would be present when it began.
I moved to making food for everyone who did not have bendalloy-minds still filled with sixteen stored meals to tap, leaving fruit, hard-boiled eggs, and pancakes in the fridge at the mansion before I left to do the same at Mount Justice.
As of 08:00, I was still the only one awake in either place, and I had finished my default exercise regime with no wish to do more.
<Recognized: Ferris, B06. >
I took a Zeta tube to the Watchtower after leaving notes, claimed a chair in the room where we would be meeting, and started storing idly while checking on the statuses of the Justice League members.
While the number of us that had survived these attacks near astounded me, I still would not call the situation 'good' in the least:
Captain Atom – deceased by disintegration, believed to be due to energy capacity overload
Batman – inactive, comatose, bed-bound, and facing potential medical retirement from field duty due to his spinal injury
Black Canary – inactive, bedridden due to shockwave-induced internal bleeding, but Dr. Sivana said her hearing was recoverable
Flash – inactive, as he should be medically benched after losing his right arm below the elbow despite attempting light duty
Superman – light duty, but only for a few days, so that any aftereffect of having kryptonite in his abdominal organs can pass
Martian Manhunter – light duty for the week, as he was able to function, but having been set on fire for a long period of time did injure him
Green Arrow – light duty, though he would be inactive if he hadn't insisted, due to his assorted injuries
Captain Marvel – light duty, as while Billy's injuries were negligible, his Uncle Dudley had been hospitalized, incurring emotional distress
Plastic Man – light duty, as the Dr. Sivana could not believe he'd survived to be reassembled after his attackers had frozen and smashed him
Wonder Woman – active, comparatively unharmed beyond lingering effects of being dosed with a biological weapon, and managing multiple situations
GL Jordan – active, having avoided suffering even a concussion despite the fight I found him in, and primarily searching for the Light's bases
Aquaman – active, though his preoccupations with Atlantis and the relief efforts had put him on the equivalent of light duty
Hawkman – active, and he had retrieved his stolen mace from a Light base yesterday with the Lantern Jordan's aid, much to everyone's relief
Hawkwoman – active, after Motherbox had cleared the remaining drug traces from her system and her tremors had ceased
GL Stewart – active, as the Lantern Jordan had retrieved him without notable issues
Dr. Fate – active, though taking it easy and bringing backup to field situations due to the state of the Zatara's body being injured
Atom – active, having suffered no noteworthy injuries in his takedown
Icon – active, having recovered without issue from the incapacitating electrical devices after he got a good night's sleep
Red Arrow – active, currently scouting to prepare for a UN Strike against one of the Light's bases
Mother of Champions – active, and currently coordinating several missions of international cooperation
Zatara – N/A, still acting as the host for Nabu, though Dr. Fate was being careful with the bullet wounds and bruised ribs
Red Tornado – N/A, on Venus, might not have even been informed of recent events given the communication difficulties
I sent a few emails, I read some news articles—I was gratified to see that there had been multiple military strikes on various Light bases, and a number of recovered escapees, as well as an outpouring of support from less affected areas to those heavily damaged—and when the Captain Marvel came in for the meeting, I rose quietly, hugged him, expressed my good wishes for his uncle, and brought him to sit beside me.
I did not rise to greet the Superman or the Wonder Woman when they entered, but I whispered (and likely mangled) a few words in Kryptonian to the former and offered an abbreviated warrior's salute to the latter.
Others trickled in until it was time to begin.
Most of the Justice League was present, but Kaldur and I were the only Team members and I did not see any outsiders. Absent were the Batman (bedridden), the Aquaman, the Hawkman (though I assumed the Hawkwoman had his proxy), the Lantern Stewart, and the Atom.
My eyes lingered on the Flash when he entered, and his mouth twisted oddly at me as he sat beside the Lantern Jordan.
"Before we begin," the Wonder Woman declared, "I would like us to share a moment of silence in memory of Captain Atom, and in memory for yet uncounted lives lost or ruined-," I huffed slightly and politely raised a hand to my mouth, unsure of whether or not my lips were quirking at the word choice. "-in the 'Lighthouse of Alexandria' attacks this past week. They-… A moment of silence," she repeated.
'
It appears bowing my head and closing my eyes is appropriate as part of this, too,' I decided, doing so.
"…Thank you," the Wonder Woman continued after a brief wait. "Would anyone like to raise anything else before we proceed onto our agenda?"
"How did our enemies get a sufficiently thorough breakdown of our abilities for the attacks?" the Icon inquired mildly.
"Yeah, and where did the name 'Lighthouse of Alexandria' come from?" the Red Arrow added. "Seems kind of fancy for mass terrorist actions."
"Mm." I gestured. "Motherbox- Translation?"
<Translation communication in effect! >
"Thank you. Motherbox learned the name of the Light's operations for the recent attacks after interfacing with several of their computer systems."
"Lucas Carr also mentioned the name while explaining what he remembered from his Starro-tech experience," the Superman said. "He'll recover fully in a month or two with some therapy, by the way. As for the breakdown and contingencies… J'onn, do you want to handle this?"
"That may be best. Batman has often been called paranoid or pessimistic," the Martian Manhunter began, standing, "but he is an unpowered human surrounded by many people much more conventionally dangerous than his self, both as enemies and as friends."
"Allies. Not friends," the Lantern Jordan objected. '
I do not know enough to disagree with him, but that seems petty,' I assessed.
"Time and place, Jordan," the Hawkwoman snapped. "J'onn?"
"Suffice it to say, Batman's mind is an unpleasant place to be, because he constantly worries, obsesses, and predicts. He prepares in advance for future encounters with any enemies he has previously faced as a matter of course. Inspired by one prior occasion when Superman was subjected to mental domination, as well as being once possessed himself by the ghost of Boston Brand," the Martian Manhunter continued, "Batman assembled a collection of contingency plans to be used against members of the Justice League or the Team-,"
"Those weren't for mind-control, those were just to take down us as we are, and he just fuckin'
left them where the Light could get to them!" the Green Arrow objected, slamming his fist into the table. "We nearly got killed!"
'
That is… not incorrect, but he has made a number of implied assumptions, and his display is not especially impressive,' I opined. I held my tongue about it.
"
Enough. Please, Green Arrow, I want to keep things productive," the Wonder Woman intervened.
"Am I wrong? Someone tell me I'm wrong!" the Green Arrow challenged.
I was shifting in my seat and plotting, but I was sitting beside the Captain Marvel, and he stilled me with one hand.
"Loud, isn't he?" my friend joked weakly as several other voices rose. I smiled and accepted the Wisdom of Solomon's implied advice to stay uninvolved.
After about three more outbreaks of shouting, everyone quieted down for the Martian Manhunter to speak again.
"As I said, Batman assembled a list of potential contingency plans, copies of which were held on his private servers, in the Fortress of Solitude, and on Martian data transcribers in my keeping. These contingency plans," the Martian Manhunter emphasized, "were
intended for others to use after Batman had fallen, as he planned to confront any mind-controlled member of the Justice League personally if he were able to do so, and they included schematics of some devices as well as descriptions, instructions, and potentially viable advice.
"While I understand the accusation that Talia al Ghul must have been the one to supply the League of Shadows with these plans," the Martian Manhunter insisted, "I repeatedly scanned her mind with her permission. Her loyalties to the Shadows were born of desperation and love for her father, Ra's al Ghul. She held no intentions of betraying the Justice League, and in consideration of the Light's penchant for mind-control, I doubt that she willingly cooperated.
"I extrapolate this: Ra's al Ghul has repeatedly expressed a desire to retire from leadership of the Shadows, and previously wished to recruit Batman as his successor; at some point in the past year, as a result of the Light's activities and connections, Ra's al Ghul located an alternative to Batman-," I shifted and raised a hand, but remained silent. "-and gave this successor command over the League of Shadows. The Light came into possession of Batman's contingency plans for use against mind-controlled or otherwise corrupted allies, and they put said plans into action earlier this week as part of a larger scheme to sow terror, advance their agenda, recruit new followers, and potentially remove what opposition they have faced from the Justice League and the Team. Batman's contingencies may be the source for many of the plans that were used against us, but there was clear involvement from the Light in deploying them. Ferris, what do you wish to add?"
I stood. '
I owe Motherbox greatly for her translation. Although… I can tap connection, but should I? Not yet,' I decided.
"First, we believe Ra's al Ghul's replacement in the Light is the criminal Bane, although it remains uncertain; later today I will be speaking with the Team and sending a few questions to members of the Justice League about a course of action to deal with Bane and the situation in Gotham. Non-lethally," I added when I saw several people twitch. '
Sadly. Of all the times for an acceptable target to be... Well.' "While we are uncertain of Bane's position in the League of Shadows and in the Light, I can speak with certainty that he was Talia's mind-control handler, and the one who retrieved the plans from her.
"Regarding Talia's guilt in the matter, Motherbox confirmed there was brain activity matching the pattern of recently activated post-hypnotic triggers, as well as the activation of subliminal instructions, and that none of this activity occurred more than six-to-eight weeks in the past. When I spoke to her, Talia was bleary on what exactly had occurred, but the Light has been combining multiple schools of magic and technology; I would not be surprised if they have developed a way to conceal telepathy triggers from easy detection.
"We have incomplete internal security recordings of Bane's confrontation with Talia when he infiltrated the Batman's home as the last step of the plan he had developed to incapacitate the Batman; Talia originally did not react to his presence when he arrived, and then he appeared to make her an offer before the situation deteriorated into violence. The extent of her injuries from him were severe," I continued, "thus I highly expect that she cannot be any more culpable than any Justice League member was during New Year's Eve.
"The Light could easily have learned the plans—or even learned of the plans' existence—from the Superman or the Martian Manhunter at that time or learned of them and begun to plan for this attack. Motherbox scanned and interfaced with several pieces of power armor as well as the sensors, programming, and memory databanks of the Amazing Android series. Mm." '
Should I…? Yes, I will.' "While I do not doubt that the Light will keep copies of the plans and potentially put them into effect again, I do not see how this is any less dangerous than the numerous things they have already accomplished with their own resources, such as the attack on New Year's Eve. Thank you."
I sat.
"Lucas also indicated that Bane was Vandal Savage's appointed representative, and the leader of this mission," the Wonder Woman seconded. She pulled up a set of files on the holographic display, ready to be enlarged. "Any other comments?"
"I don't think keeping records of our personal information – our histories, psych profiles, or that stuff – is pertinent to taking us down when we would be 'under mind-control' and none of that stuff would apply. This was meant to kill
us, right
now. Is that acceptable?"
The Wonder Woman's lips thinned, and she took a deep breath. "If it were as you claim, no, it would not be, but- Plastic Man?"
The Plastic Man stood, his smile absent. "Look, I… What with the history between Batman and me, the fact that he trusted me enough to let me in the Justice League is a big deal. But… I… I'm not going to be okay for a long time. I didn't even know I could
survive being frozen, smashed to bits, and stuffed in containers. Would being mind-controlled mean it was okay for me to
die?"
"For that matter," the Mother of Champions added sourly, "if these plans were intended to be used in case of mind-control, why
weren't they used by the Team on New Year's Eve? Why weren't they given to any authorities to be used if we were turned against the people of the world while under the influence of Starro-tech?" She idly rubbed the remaining rope-burns on her wrists as she finished.
The Superman stood: "As J'onn mentioned, there were only three copies, all kept tightly secret. I partly began this in 2000, when I gave Batman a sample of Kryptonite to be used if he needed to stop me, and I kept a copy of the plans as well... but I didn't tell Superboy or Ferris that they existed, either. They were originally intended for use
by other members of the Justice League if Batman couldn't put them into action himself; we've kept a lot of information from the kids- from the Team," he amended, "in the past, because of their ages—the existence of the Watchtower and Snapper's involvement with us spring to mind—so if Robin didn't know about them then…."
"I should note," I interrupted, "that I was peripherally aware that plans like these existed; the Batman explained that contingencies existed when he required that I elect a secret keeper—in my case, the Queen Mera—whom the Justice League could consult in an emergency if I was turned, mind-controlled, or if I suffered a psychotic break. There were several other people in the room at that time. Aqualad?"
"Additionally, Mother of Champions," my teammate/team captain explained, "the Team already possessed viable plans to combat several members of the Justice League, in theory. One of our first training contributions from Ferris was when she instructed the rest of the Team in strategies we could use to incapacitate
her, due to her vulnerability to mental interference.
"From there," he continued, "it was a simple extension to develop plans for use against each other: Miss Martian knows the precise amount of strength needed with a telepathic attack to render Ferris insensate without inducing a lethal aneurism; Magelet can cage Miss Martian in flame without inflicting lethal burns, and she knows how to alter that cage if she needs to imprison myself, Tempest, or Cerulean; Superboy is training in throwing with his super-strength, Kid Flash has a gas that can inhibit Magelet's breathing and speech, I am close to mastering use of an electric charge able to disrupt Superboy's nervous system without unduly injuring him, and there are any number of similar examples.
"I imagine Batman would find it difficult to plan for a situation where the entire Justice League was incapacitated in one fell swoop when he could not predict the method used to do so," Kaldur reasoned, "but that is partly why he – and a number of others here – have taken on apprentices. We have learned, and we have grown; in dark waters it is always safest to swim in groups."
"Thank you, Aqualad," the Wonder Woman said. "Having spent enough time on other subjects, we should discuss the aftermath."
The discussion moved on (though begrudgingly on the part of a few people).
We discussed the prisoners that had escaped, those that had been recaptured, and the prisoners newly captured during the attacks.
We discussed property damages, and whether governments or charities would be covering them.
We discussed a few possible awareness and public relations campaign approaches, which could double as fundraisers for more aid.
We discussed accountability in certain areas, testimony, and possible shift arrangements or accommodations for the ongoing upheaval.
Motherbox was recording the discussion, so I let my attention shift between the members' mannerisms as talks continued.
My one contribution of significance was when I expressed my willingness and intention to 'handle' Gotham in the Batman's absence, as the Superman would not need much assistance in Metropolis. I could see others wanting to question me, but they let it wait until we had completed our other business.
We brought up new protocols to implement, old rules to rewrite, medical leave policies that would need review, and such things.
After the better part of an hour, someone finally brought up whether to call for a vote on Batman's continued Justice League membership; I had been somewhat expecting it, given his perceived culpability, but I had not expected the opportunity I was offered.
The Superman stood and
almost shouted them down, but after an ominously deep breath he pleasantly turned to me.
"Ferris," my patron requested, wringing his hands, "would you mind explaining why that's a
bad idea and a
wildly inappropriate suggestion right now?"
My eyebrows rose. '
Oh, Rusts, he must be angry. Not that I don't understand… I am very glad to have a zinc-mind and translation.'
"One," I listed after standing, "I understand the rules to be that the Batman is entitled to participate in debate of his own membership until his membership is removed. Two, until the Batman wakes up from his coma, it does not matter whether or not he is a member. Three, if you plan to additionally 'rub salt in the wounds' he suffered—a broken spine that may take two years to mend with Motherbox's aid, and the miscarriage of his unborn child—then you should consider whether you wish to continue being a member of the Justice League. Four, if this is what happened already, do you want to know what he may begin planning once he has been left alone without, mm, without comrades to temper his worse impulses? Five," I asserted, "it bears emphasizing that the Batman's original plans went to great lengths in avoiding lethality."
"
Smashing me to bits after freezing me was supposed to be
non-lethal?" the Plastic Man accused, his form distorting crazily with his powers.
"Yes," I answered flatly. "The Superman survived having a kryptonite bullet inside his body for hours because the bullet used more lead then was necessary in its alloy, diminishing the radiation he was exposed to. Many members of the Justice League – for example, the Aquaman, the Flash, and the Wonder Woman – were subjected to plans requiring hours to have permanent effects, allowing plenty of time to reverse them, as occurred.
"Other Justice League members, such as the Atom, the Icon, and the Captain Marvel," I continued, "were captured and rendered unconscious at worst. The near death of the Plastic Man was an exception, and I will wager money with any interested person that if we examine the original copies of the plans, then will not find instructions to smash his frozen body with a hammer. Will anyone bet me?"
I looked slowly around the table. Most of them met my eyes approvingly, or in defiance. A few looked away.
"Thank you, Ferris. I couldn't have said it better myself," the Superman finished. I sat again, pleased I'd had a chance to vent.
"Next subject please," the Hawkwoman requested.
"What are we going to do about Bane?" the Red Arrow asked sourly.
"We can handle that," I said immediately, as it fit with my handling Gotham. '
I am very glad I planned my arguments in advance.'
"Whoa! Wait a second," the Flash objected, racing over to stand beside me and lean over me. "You mean 'we' like the Team? No way, that's a
bad idea."
"We're not sending the kids after that monster!" the Green Arrow seconded.
"Ollie, stop treating them like children!" the Red Arrow countered.
"We kids," Aqualad input flatly, "are the reason you all remain
alive." Several people around the table hesitated at that.
The Wonder Woman swept her gaze over everyone in turn, and most people sat down, but the Flash stayed up when she nodded.
The Flash moved to grab my shoulder, only to belatedly remember the stump of his arm. I stood to look him in the eyes instead.
"I will explain," I said, and this time I
did tap connection to assist me. "Bane remains in Gotham for the moment, basking in his glory and all but Rioting the crowds; I may ask the Martian Manhunter or the Superman for some assistance if we deem it necessary, but this will be best done covertly. Bane showed himself capable of 'breaking' the Batman, thus he has thrown Gotham into chaos as he claimed the city.
"If we must be safe, then I am willing to settle for a good outcome, but the best outcome," I continued as I swept my gaze around the room, "is for us to defeat Bane in a way that makes the Batman appear responsible, allowing Gotham city to more quickly be pacified. Thus, we should be covert. We may need to ask the Martian Manhunter or the Superman for assistance in impersonating the Batman – and for combat support if we need to be safe, I promise – but between Zatanna, M'gann, Artemis, Robin, Batgirl, and myself, I believe it is doable. With assistance from the others in the team, it should be thus easier." I looked back at Flash. "We will do this safely, or not at all, on my word of
Honor."
I tried not to glance guiltily toward or away from the stump of his arm – a condition I felt all too responsible for.
"Why bother making it look like Batman? Just have one or two of us step in to shut Bane down," the Lantern Jordan countered. "He's a brawler on steroids."
"Superman, will you answer this question, or should I?" I offered. '
He is the Batman's best friend; I expect we agree in reasoning….'
The Superman sighed, but then he stood to speak. "Gotham was once the most crime-ridden city in America, and by a large margin at that, but Batman successfully cut it down to the point that Bludhaven and Hub City have both been ranked worse, recently. He did that in large part by relying on the mythos of
Batman that he created, and he kept it up to some extent even after the Justice League brought him further into the public eye. It's worked. Even with publicly available information on him, many of Gotham's criminals still view Batman as a near-mythic figure of vengeance, rage against injustice, and retribution. As an unpowered human, Batman
needs that edge to
survive.
"Ferris wants it to look like Batman took down Bane because she's thinking long-term," he continued. "The entire world is in chaos now, even if Gotham is worse off than many other places. If any of the Justice League go to apprehend Bane in Gotham, it will confirm to the entire city that he successfully broke Batman, and that belief won't fade even if- even
when Batman is seen protecting the city again. If
Batman doesn't defeat Bane, he might never fully shake off the appearance of weakness brought on by his defeat, and Gotham could backslide badly in the future."
"I can get wanting to help Bats out," Flash agreed, speaking directly to me, "but it's not worth the risk to-,"
"To we children?" Aqualad interrupted, standing. I hummed in approval while flexing my ankles in my seat, as I disliked sitting for so long. "Will everyone present whose lives and livelihoods 'the kids' have saved at least twice in the past year please raise your hands? I am expecting you to be honest."
After a brief wait, hands lifted around the room, some grudgingly, and some sympathetically, though a few refused. Aqualad and I shared a silent look.
"Thank you," I said pleasantly. "Hands down now. Will everyone who has saved our lives at least twice in the past year please raise your hands? I will leave it to you to decide whether or not it counts that we were saved from danger the Justice League sent us into, such as when we were rescued after our fight with the Injustice League." I scanned the room slowly. "…Flash?" I prompted as hands were raised. "Green Arrow? Lantern Jordan."
"I think you've made your point, Aqualad, Ferris. It is not your
competence that we worry about," the Wonder Woman assured us tiredly.
The Captain Marvel stood. "Wren, it's not that I don't understand the whole, 'we can do more than they give us credit for,' but just because it happened doesn't mean it was
right for it to happen," he pointed out. "You shouldn't have
had to save the Justice League either time, and you shouldn't have to take down Bane, the same way you shouldn't have to wash only in cold water even though you don't need hot baths. Can you understand that?"
"I taught you that metaphor, and I do not disagree with it," I assured him. "I understand your worries. Mm. The Batman has lost his unborn child and the use of his legs. I… empathize with how he will feel after he wakes up," I admitted. "In November, it was a tremendous relief to learn immediately that the Disappearance Disaster was over and we had won. Out of respect for the Batman—the individual that most takes the Team seriously—I wish to be able to provide him with that same measure of, mm, of diminished discomfort. I wish to give him the hope I have received."
"I don't think that 'diminished discomfort' is worth the risk of throwing you into Gotham," the Hawkwoman opined.
I sighed. "I firmly repeat: we will be as safe as possible in taking down Bane. I have no objection to assistance from any member of the Justice League who wishes to take the time to help, and all volunteers will be welcome. However, what will the Team do if we are not doing this?" I asked them.
"Helping all the other trouble zones in the world," the Atom suggested, though he appeared to be listening more seriously now.
"Yes," I agreed, finally tapping some connection. "We will be split up, and not many situations need any of our individual skills. As Wally once quoted to me, 'the safest place in the world will always be where we can watch each other's backs.' Aqualad?"
"I agree," my team's captain stated. "We are able to defend each other if we are together, which is what saved us from the Light's attacks. Alone, the Team is more vulnerable, even with the Justice League by our side, and I do not doubt the Light will want payback".
"This is not just about the Batman – it is about our abilities as well. The plans are an indicator that the Light can account for the abilities of the Justice League. They failed to account properly for the Team. We have a limited window of time before Bane will leave Gotham," I asserted, editing out my habitual 'I think' addendum to strengthen the statement. "We do not know whether the Light will attack again. They will not expect us in Gotham, and we will be together, thus we will be much harder for us to harm. The Light has attacked Mount Justice. The Light has attacked the Watchtower. The Light has attacked many of the Team while we each were with our mentors. They have not successfully attacked us while we are together. What else could be safe for us?"
"The eye of the typhoon is calmest," Kaldur finished.
We let that sink in among the (mostly) adults at the table.
"I'm not sure Kid's parents are going to want him out there like that, especially with me… like this," the Flash said, gesturing to his stump. "You guys have done a lot, and Ferris,
you're of age and can decide to try this, but for the others it's still not just their decision where they go."
I did not disagree, since he was not wrong, either.
"That can be dealt with on a case-by-case basis as needed," Aqualad said. "Perhaps I might offer another topic of conversation now?" He waited for the Wonder Woman to nod assent before he continued. "Whether or not the Team combats Bane, what will we do about the rest of the Light, given their recent actions? Targeting only the Justice League is one matter, when everyone at this table volunteers to be targeted for the civilians' safety, but now the Light has shown their willingness and ability inflict massive havoc and casualties on the general populace. What steps is the world taking to bring them to Justice?"
"Everyone is stretched thin," the Mother of Champions stated, "but I know that several governments have deployed military forces against the Light and those of its associates we have reported." She rubbed her rope burns again. "I expect they will
bleed for this soon enough."
"Yeah, we've got a few locations we'll be hitting later today. But if we need suggestions, how about Luthor?" the Red Arrow demanded. "Important guy, public figure, can't exactly hide, and it should be pretty easy to freeze his assets or pick his mind apart, right? Get some real answers from him?"
"We're working on it, but Luthor was likely 'targeted' in Alexandria's early stages precisely to cut off those approaches," the Superman sighed. "As it stands, he's currently well thought of for risking his own life that way, to protect the mayor, and he's been shot; he's not untouchable, but we'd need a very good reason for our time and energy to be spent pursuing him, instead of the numerous more obviously guilty parties."
"And what, witness testimony from the Team about him on Santa Prisca with Queen Bee isn't good enough?" the Red Arrow demanded. I agreed, but I also remembered the legal reasons why that was ineligible. "Can't Martian Manhunter scan him?"
"Not without stronger evidence of wrongdoing that needed to immediately be addressed, and even then it might be eligible only as grounds for a search warrant and further investigations, but not as evidence of guilt," the Martian Manhunter explained.
"There aren't any-," The Plastic Man extended his neck and loosely knotted it. "-
loopholes we can go through in this case?"
"I began lobbying to pass most of the legislation applicable here back in the sixties," the Wonder Woman stated bitterly, "after the fourth time my Lasso revealed a case where the convicted party had been found guilty based on memories a telepath had uncovered, but in actuality the telepath had planted false memories of guilt. I
wrote several pieces that have been adopted nationally and internationally; they are as airtight as I and my mother's legal scribes could make them. I did not intend for those measures to prevent the pursuit of justice…."
"If those laws
weren't in place," the Hawkwoman consoled, "the Light would just be taking advantage of
those loopholes instead, seeding legal systems with corrupted or synthetic telepaths to declare false guilt or innocence as the Light desired. On balance, the prohibitions you pushed for are
still preventing many more injustices than they allow."
"Nothing is perfect," I agreed impulsively, the words slipping out before I could catch them.
{It All Fails}
"I am aware," the Wonder Woman said tightly.
{Truth}
I shivered and let the matter lie, grateful that I had not put any power into the accidental near-invocation.
"Be careful about that, will you?" the Captain Marvel requested as he glanced between us.
"I will be," I murmured. '
Motherbox must still have her guard up already, since she didn't say anything. ...I will need to add Anti-Life research to my list.'
"It bears mentioning," the Mother of Champions declared, "that China's laws differ from the United States' legal codes, and a licensed telepathic interrogator only needs a writ of suspicion to scan for admissible evidence of wrongdoing. Even if my superiors would not offer a license to Martian Manhunter, my co-worker Thundermind is both a man of good character and a licensed telepathic interrogator. If we can lure Lex Luthor to our country, there is no need to even declare that we are scanning him until after we have done so, especially given the magnitude of the crimes he is involved in."
"I don't want to… encourage…" the Lantern Jordan trailed off semi-uncertainly.
"If your comment alludes to taking advantage of 'the lesser evil,' I understand and I am not offended," the Mother of Champions assured him drily, thus I smothered a snicker. "Please also remember that China suffered great casualties and damage as well, and we are also entitled to pursue justice against those responsible. My government may not be staffed by the best of people, but it
is filled with
people, many of whom have been hurt in the attacks."
"While my King has made many… changes," Aqualad added, "the laws of Atlantis in these matters more closely resemble those of China than America in this. Prince Orm and King Orin are already cracking down far more harshly on all Purist collaborators than previously, due to the magnitude of the crimes Ocean Master has committed in the Light. With Luthor being a more easily reached target…."
"I remember that Ra's al Ghul had something to protect him from J'onn's telepathy, right?" the Atom noted. "What if Lex Luthor has the same thing, or he's had one of
his telepaths change his memories to look innocuous? That'd be egg on our faces, and another against ever getting him on trial."
"There may also have been sorcery or alchemy used to conceal mental modifications in Talia al Ghul, much as—if Fate recalls correctly—Martian Manhunter could not detect the 'red sun' shutdown command in Superboy's mind until after it was activated, last Thanksgiving," the Dr. Fate noted.
"If it can be confirmed, Fate may attempt to unravel it… but confirming such things would be invasive and time-consuming, requiring some other evidence to prompt this course of action over the other paths available."
"All of which is assuming we can maneuver Luthor into a sovereign territory where we can scan him," the Wonder Woman declaimed. "Plotting too much for possibilities will not be productive until Dr. Mei-Xing has broached the possibility with her superiors."
"We shouldn't count our chickens before they hatch," the Superman agreed.
"Vandal Savage is now wanted in almost every jurisdiction on Earth," the Hawkwoman began, "with John and Katar searching for him by methods beyond Earth's technology as we speak, and remembering those nations that
don't issue warrants for him can be useful in judging where the Light has a strong hold already. Ra's al Ghul is still in prison. Bane will be running around Gotham until the Team presents their plan to take him out for our approval. Ocean Master is wanted. Queen Bee is already under tight international scrutiny even if no one's proven anything; if she twitches the wrong way there should be military action taken against her. Lex Luthor can probably be lured onto territory where we can interrogate him for inside information if we work at it. Is there anything else for us discuss?"
"Does anyone know Vandal Savage well enough to guess what his general next move will be, or where he's hiding?" the Lantern Jordan asked. "He's the leader, so out-thinking
him is our best bet, and we have a lot of history to work from in predicting him."
The Wonder Woman's mouth twisted.
"Despite his ego-mania, Vandal Savage has been thoroughly beaten enough times that he knows when and how to retreat," she judged. "My own interactions with him are limited, but I
have fought him, and my mother knew and hated him before the Amazons retreated from Man's World. He may not go to ground for as long as he has previously, but he will go to ground. I expect he'll also attempt to 'sate the bloodlust of the masses' by throwing expendable sacrifices at us to capture in revenge, so we should face some victories in our attempts."
"It's not a victory if he hands it to us," the Flash opined.
"I agree. As well, I worry that he may mind-control more innocent people to 'sate the bloodlust,'" I contributed. '
Mind-control, false memories... Ick.'
"That's why we have trial by jury and presumption of innocence, right?" the Captain Marvel pointed out.
"It's why we pursue justice instead of revenge," the Superman agreed.
No one else volunteered a contribution.
"...Thank you," the Wonder Woman said. "I believe we've covered everything productive regarding this topic for the moment. The last thing before we leave for other work is the matter of scheduling for the coming week. If everyone will check this suggested roster…."
