Gotham's Bat, leader of the non-profit, non-governmental Department of World Order and Security known as the Justice League, often pointed out that the name suggested they were part of the UN, an attempt to create the appearance of control by world leaders. In the early 21st century, when the League was just a group of vigilantes fighting enhanced criminals and invasions by non-Earth races, six misfits worked to eliminate the scourge of invaders, traffickers, and terrorists. But the media hits—the interviews and the gossip—and the obsessive smear campaigns of the Luthor Corporation and Kord Industries had turned the League into something far more political than it originally intended. Now, with a fraction of its original support base left, it was restricted at every turn, and almost always, at every opportunity, by the media campaign led by Luthor, the Baroness, and the dozens of paid politicians. The League's chaotic routine was not prepared for what it received that morning.
"Oh, very nice!" Dinah Lance Aka Black Canary commented, looking at the document of Batman's partner, Robin. "Visual trauma due to meta enhancements of supposedly Greek origin." She wrinkled her nose. "This one is completely yours, Zatara."
Batman crossed his arms, staring at Diana Prince:
"What did the queen say?"
"Well... she contacted all the Greek factions she could..."
"Factions?" Flash asked. "More than one? That's not so comforting, they are literally loose assassins who are enhanced, and now we find out that there are factions... I think the world's peace went down the drain when the Big S fell from the sky."
But Diana didn't answer, she just looked at Oliver Queen with such intensity that it made the modern Robin Hood tremble. He carried his quiver and a good supply of "trick arrows" and was completely tense, alert; warnings covered his face. Starling's watcher was not happy.
Actually, they had a lot to lose with the new information released, for Oliver Queen was a second generation legacy, putting him as a former centurion of the twelfth legion, a veteran of the Roman faction of demigods. Then there was herself, and as an immortal demigod she would be a more pleasant target if her brothers were to suspect treachery on her part. After all, a few years ago they had a wave of traitors in favor of the enemies of Olympus that was led by a child of Hermes, one of Nemesis, Hecate, Aphrodite, and almost all the lesser gods. After that, well, wars have started over less.
There was a thoughtful grunt from Arthur Curry, and belatedly, Diana remembered that the king of Atlantis also had ties to the divine world. King Arthur fell under the protection of Triton, messenger of the seas and heir to Poseidon's throne. In her mind, Diana kicked herself for such an oversight, but sea factions were always isolationist by nature, it was easy to forget their existence when others were louder. She clasped her hands together and looked at the ruler of Atlantis, asking him; a weak nod was enough.
"You're from a faction!" Captain Marvel exclaimed, pointing at the king. "Which one do you belong to?"
"Yes," Curry nodded, looking at the champion of the Rock of Eternity. "Atlantis is protected and sponsored by our lord Triton."
He gave no further answers. Batman considered the information and came to his own conclusions:
"The new vigilante, which faction does she belong to?" The princess of Themisyra looked at her leader impassively, not moved by his "intimidating" tone. "We must know if we are going to work with them."
Even with that comment, Diana refused to answer right away:
"Mother informed me of a new alignment among the Greek factions. I don't know how many are included, nor their leaders or the Olympians who sponsor them."
"There was a complete change of the status quo," said Dinah, breathing more calmly.
Batman didn't calm down, rather, he became more concerned about the general scenario.
"They are in an unstable state. This vigilante may be part of a disgruntled minority, perhaps they want to reveal the demigod society to the world to cause chaos to the leaders of this new alliance. Once we have contact with them we can form a course of action to suppress this group…"
Before continuing he was interrupted by Diana, she shook her head without looking at him.
"You know how destructive assumptions are for a line of action. The demigods follow the force, and if a unified faction was formed among the Greeks it is because the leader has earned his place among all the factions before unifying."
Batman did not respond, but his silence was all that was needed and new problems appeared before the minds of the League: this unknown leader may have decided to take a directly violent stance against The world. But Batman had other ideas, and the rest of the Holy Trinity saw it too: this super faction had a charismatic leader.
The other members noticed this line of thinking. That would have to be the first point to be touched upon within the League. This situation was not expected, and his arrival was unexpected for everyone. Even members of the same cultural world were in the dark about this new position.
Batman left the doubt hanging in the air, and read the facsimile that came from the Starling City Police Department. It was brief:
SUBJECT: Willow Loccia, 12 years old (kidnapping victim for human trafficking ring).
CONDITION: dorsal segment of her vertebrae damaged by blunt force trauma, legs partially paralyzed.
STATEMENT: kidnapped in the Glades during protests against Merlyn Global. Rescued by Vigilantes Arrow and Speedy on September 13, 2016. Reports the abduction of a fellow captive by an unknown female vigilante.
EVIDENCE: Evidence shows the presence of an unknown female vigilante.
FINDINGS: No evidence of sexual assault or illness from confinement.
(signed)
QUENTIN A. LANCE, Starling City Police Department, South Precinct Captain.
Based on this memo, Batman made two assumptions: first, that the unknown demigoddess is a professional, she left no recognizable physical evidence. And second, that she did not act alone, the information to carry out this type of hit required at least two people and with the effectiveness of her results were more than that number. On the contrary, that ability to gather information and use it, Batman has never seen that capacity within the men of KGBeast or China White. Batman was sure they would be invaluable allies... Or very, very dangerous enemies.
######
The rain was falling in great sheets that soaked to the bone, punishing the green pastures of Half-Blood Hill. It was almost midnight; the lighting of Long Island had dimmed due to the storm, and healer Kayla Knols was
working with the new resident of cabin six, when she heard a creaking sound, like a rusty door being slowly opened. Knowing what it was, she quickly applied a compress to the girl's forehead and went to the next room to confirm her theory. When her hand touched the doorknob, she heard the twittering again, and Kayla stopped, smiling. Evidently, it was Percy, who had come in through the window. Percy had that bad habit, but it was the only way to avoid the cleaning women.
Kayla opened the door and illuminated the interior of the room. There she saw Percy.
He stood, no trace of water on his body, wrapped only in jeans and a camp t-shirt. At the edge of the window, rain was pouring in heavily. When Kayla entered, she raised her head and looked at him curiously, but did not give a greeting. In the light of the lamps, Kayla saw the blood dripping from his clothes. As he breathed softly, the wound in his side closed quickly and, with a shake of the fabric, there was no wound or blood on him anymore.
Kayla moved forward, her eyes rolled back, and her martial brother only shook his head. But long before she reached him, she already knew what had happened, and that the camp should look for new cleaning harpies.
"You shouldn't break curfew, Percy."
"It was necessary," she replied dryly, "your performance at Starling caught the attention of the League. Apparently you knocked out one of the Arrow's cronies. We must be ready... We don't know what Diana will say to the mortals but we will prepare for the worst, how is Sonia?"
"She's a little shaken, but she'll recover. Will you call a war council?"
"That's why I'm here... you'll be present on Will's behalf," without further ado he went out the window again, heading into the storm. Kayla watched him leave, walking as if wind and water didn't exist.
"R is korakas," she cursed angrily. Now they had to deal with the mortals... Well, she thought a new plague was necessary... Or an earthquake. She would make sure to mention it to Percy during the meeting.