The sudden appearance of Atlantis from the depths of the Atlantic Ocean, combined with the recent attack that had endangered global security, was like a political earthquake. Suddenly, governments all over the world were put to work dealing with this unprecedented situation. In response to these developments, a summit had been convened within Metropolis in which heads of state and ambassadors from every corner of the globe were brought together with representatives from each faction so that their heads might be put together and a single course of action defined.
Metropolis, where all of these parties had been gathered and assembled, was thus chosen to be the symbolic host city because of the city's history and reputation for endurance and inspiration. What had once been the old city, now beneath the shadow of the iconic Daily Planet building and the ever-watchful eye of Superman, it had been remade into a fortress of diplomacy. Security was tighter than it had ever been before, with advanced surveillance systems, and checkpoints.
A cavalcade of world leaders touched down in their cutting-edge aircraft, descending onto their runways to be greeted by a sea of press and a precise and orderly welcoming party. It was an air of anticipation and nervousness, marinated in recognizing the gravity of the situation. The summit had all been set in the recently built International Peace Center. At the center of the building lay a type of amphitheater that housed all of the equipment needed for communication among delegates.
Seated were all the delegates from the major nations, as were the Atlanteans, the Amazons, and representatives of all other major factions. With them were Bruce Wayne, Thomas Wayne, Oliver Queen, Diana Prince, Kara, and Aquawoman—all representing the new Atlantis that had risen to the surface. One could feel the tension in the air, and yet one could almost feel how close a way forward would be.
The summit started with an address from the Secretary-General of Metropolis, known to be an expert diplomat and cool in emergencies. He expressed his gratitude for having everyone at that amazing time and insisted on one thing: challenges can only be tackled through unity and cooperation.
"Ladies and gentlemen, distinguished delegates, we stand at a pivotal moment in history. The emergence of Atlantis and the recent attack have underscored the need for unprecedented collaboration. Our goal today is not only to address immediate security concerns but also to lay the groundwork for a future where peace and mutual respect prevail. Let us approach this summit with open minds and a commitment to dialogue."
The Secretary-General's speech concluded. The room settled into a heavy silence, filled with anticipation. The delegates, seated in their respective positions, exchanged glances—some wary, others determined. The stage was set for one of the most significant diplomatic endeavors in human history.
Bruce Wayne stood up, his presence commanding immediate attention. As a prominent figure in the business world, and as one of the richest men in the world, he was well respected, and his opinion was considered a valuable asset.
"Let me start by thanking the Secretary-General for such an inspiring introduction," Bruce spoke out with a smile. "And let me also express my gratitude to Metropolis for hosting this summit. We're fortunate to be here today with so many leaders and dignitaries committed to facing the challenges before us."
After a brief pause, he continued...
"As you all know, Atlantis has returned to the world after millennia, but we aren't only dealing with them but also the new discovery of Paradise Island of the Amazons. We have Diana Prince with us as a representative of Themyscira."
There was a murmur among the crowd. Their eyes were on Diana.
"Now it's inevitable for us to be afraid of the unknown. However, allow me to reveal the lost era of our planet..." Bruce took out a remote and pressed it. The light dimmed as the big screen on the wall lit up, displaying ancient images of Humans, Atlanteans, Amazons, Gods, and other species who lived on Earth thousands of years ago in unity.
"This is a secret file that I have gained access to over the course of my life. These are records of beings that used to live on our planet thousands of years ago. Humans, Gods, Demi-Gods, Aliens, Lanterns, and many others... They lived side by side in harmony until he arrived..." He shifted the focus to an ancient image of Darkseid that he found on Paradise Island. He continued to change the image and showed the leftover traces of a long-forgotten war.
"Darkseid led his army of Apokolips and attacked our world. The result? Heroes united together to fight him back and banished him from our planet, but unfortunately, they couldn't end that threat. Hahaha..." He chuckled a bit, "I guess, you must be thinking how is that related to this matter and some might think it's nothing but some old stories from children's books or legends but trust me it is more real than you can imagine. The proof of the existence of Amazons and Atlanteans is the proof in itself. And it is the reason why we are gathered here today!"
"Are you expecting to believe us that all this is real? Gods... Demi-Gods... Are you seriously expecting us to believe all these fairy tales?" An ambassador shouted in disbelief.
Bruce smiled at that question...
"Diana Prince is a Demi-God and she is sitting right there. So, yeah... Why can't we believe it?" Bruce answered. "We have Superman among us who is an alien, metahumans with superpowers, Atlanteans, Amazons... So, why is it that hard to believe that there are Gods and Demi-Gods among us? Although some are long gone or ascended to a higher plane of existence. The rest are all here, right before us."
The Ambassador fell silent upon hearing Bruce's words, causing everyone else to look at Diana Prince. They realized that everything he said was true. She was indeed a Demi-God. And the fact that they also did their own research before coming here proved that Bruce didn't lie about the existence of Atlantis and Themyscira.
"Now, all of you can think, talk, and argue all day about what to do with the recent discoveries, but we got bigger things to worry about."
Bruce took a deep breath, before revealing the hard, cold truth.
"Darkseid is coming for Earth again. And this time, he won't make the same mistake he made thousands of years ago. He will come prepared and there will be chaos."
The revelation caused all the delegates to panic. Some even stood up from their seats, shouting, "This is ridiculous!" while others looked at Bruce with wide eyes as if he were crazy.
Thomas Wayne then stood up to calm them down, "Please calm down, everyone! I know it's hard to believe, but it's the truth. Let us listen to Bruce first before making any judgments!"
His voice was loud enough to silence the delegates. Everyone calmed down and sat back in their seats.
Everyone listened intently as Bruce explained further.
"Darkseid is preparing for an invasion. He is building an army to conquer Earth and enslave humanity. And the only way for us to stop him is by uniting together as one against this threat. This is the only way for us to survive. Some might ask, how do I know? Well, a few months ago, someone activated something they shouldn't have." Bruce turned toward the US President, pointing at him directly.
"US Gov object 6-19-82. Where is it?"
The US President paled when he heard those words. He tried to deny it, but Bruce wouldn't let him.
"Thanks to you, Earth is in danger..."
While trying to search for the third Mother Box, Jarvis discovered that it was under US's control. They had been experimenting with it for a while now and the sleeping artifact activated thanks to them, sending a signal into the outer space.
"I don't know what you are talking about!" The US President denied Bruce's accusations.
"Really? Then how do you explain this?"
Bruce changed the big screen on the wall into a hologram display, showing them the video footage of a lab where scientists were experimenting with the Mother Box.
Everyone in the room gasped in shock. They never expected such a thing to happen.
"You see? We are doomed because of you. That signal from your lab reached Darkseid, and now he found Earth again."
The US President panicked when he saw the footage. He knew that he was responsible for the upcoming invasion. But before he could say anything, Bruce interrupted him.
"Now, I know that this is all shocking, but we need to face the facts. Without unity among us, we are doomed. But, not all hope is lost. Darkseid can reach Earth without the Mother Boxes. So, he'll send his army to secure the three Mother Boxes that are on Earth. Two of them are in a somewhat secured place, but that one is right there in a mere lab and they are still fiddling with it, activating it further!"
Bruce pointed at the Mother Box in the footage.
Murmurings started to spread throughout the room. All the delegates were discussing among themselves, trying to decide on what to do. After a while, the Russian Ambassador spoke out.
"Mr. Wayne. We did our own research and what you say is nothing but truth. Although it's hard to believe, the facts speak for themselves. Atlantis and Themyscira are real, and so is Darkseid. We had records of encounters with Green Lanterns in the past. So, I agree with you. Now, we can argue about what to do about the recent discoveries later. But right now, we need to focus on the bigger issue."
The Russian Ambassador's words sparked hope within the hearts of everyone present. They realized that the situation was much more serious than they thought.
"We need to unite together and prepare for war," the Russian Ambassador continued.
With him, many other ambassadors nodded in agreement.
"Yes, we need to unite together and prepare for war!"
"United we stand, divided we fall!"
"We need to work together for the greater good!"
But, as usual, there were some who disagreed and wanted nothing to do with this nonsense.
"Absolutely not! I refuse to believe this nonsense!"
"We have enough problems on our own! Why should we deal with yours?!"
"This is ridiculous! I'm outta here!"
"You can play your fairy tales, but if our nation is threatened by either Amazons or Atlanteans, then we'll fight back!"
"Same goes for us!"
Some ambassadors left the room, leaving behind only those who believed in the need to unite together against Darkseid.
"I'm planning on establishing a neutral powerhouse to unite all heroes from all over the globe so that we can be prepared for Darkseid's arrival." Thomas Wayne stood up to say. "A group of heroes, uncorrupted by politics, unhindered by laws, with only one goal in mind... Save Earth from any and all threats! A Justice League!"
The idea of a Justice League was received well by most delegates. They understood the need for such a league and agreed that it was a good idea. However, there were still some who were skeptical about this whole thing. If such a power is formed, then what if they try to rule over Earth instead? They may appear righteous, but power corrupts everyone in the end.
"I agree with Mr. Wayne!" The British Ambassador spoke out, "Such a league is necessary in these times. But it also carries risks. We need to monitor it and make sure that it doesn't turn into a dictatorship."
The British Ambassador's words sparked a heated debate among the delegates. Many agreed with him while others argued that a league like this is needed.
"If we wanted to take over Earth, we would have done so eons ago," Aquawoman stood up and finally spoke. "Drowning the land and then taking the entire world for us Atlanteans. That's how we would have done it. But, we don't want that. All we want is peace and co-existence with everyone. We are all on the same boat here, people."
"And Themyscira is a peaceful island, we don't want war or conquest. We just want to live in peace and protect our homeland," Diana added.
"Considering how humans treated me, experimented, and tortured me for years... if I wanted, I could have destroyed this planet with a single punch," Kara stood up, causing the delegates to gasp in shock. "Yet, you all are alive, aren't you? So, stop your useless babble because your opinion doesn't matter at this point. Justice League is happening, and Darkseid is coming whether you like it or not. So, shut up and swallow your fear and pride. I lost my one home, I ain't gonna lose another."
Her words struck deep within their hearts. She was right. They had no choice but to accept the reality of the situation. Either they unite together and prepare for war, or they perish.
Thus, after hours-long discussions and arguments, maybe a little threat... As soon as Kara finished voicing her opinion, all those delegations who left the meeting returned with fear on their faces. For some reason, they all agreed and gave green light which surprised all those present in the room. Even the US government agreed to give up the Mother Box to Amazon for safekeeping.
"What did you do?" Thomas whispered to Bruce.
"Me? Nothing... You think I'm insane enough to blackmail the world leaders and empty their bank accounts?" Bruce smirked.