The Batcave - One Week Later
The Justice League had left Gotham. The city was healing.
But deep in the newly rebuilt Batcave, the lights were low.
Bruce Wayne sat at the console. He wasn't sleeping. He was typing. On the screen were profiles of his new "friends."
SUPERMAN:Vulnerability: Kryptonite (Green), Red Sun Radiation, Magic.WONDER WOMAN:Vulnerability: Nanite injection into inner ear (destabilizes equilibrium), The Lasso of Truth (if used against her).FLASH:Vulnerability: Vibro-bullet to the spinal cord (induces seizures at lightspeed).GREEN LANTERN:Vulnerability: Post-Hypnotic Suggestion (Blindness).
I walked down the stairs, carrying a fresh pot of coffee. I glanced at the screen.
"Planning a dinner party, Sir?" I asked dryly. "Or an assassination?"
"Contingencies," Batman muttered, not looking up. "You saw them, Sebastian. Clark moved a river. Diana channeled enough electricity to power a state. If they ever went rogue... like Jean-Paul..."
"They are not Jean-Paul, Sir. They are heroes."
"Everyone is a hero until they have a bad day," Bruce said darkly. He saved the file. Project: Tower of Babel.
He pulled a small, lead-lined disc from the drive.
"Store this," Bruce ordered, handing it to me. "Safe deposit box 52. Off-site. Only you and I know the location."
I took the disc. It felt heavy, not in weight, but in intent.
"As you wish, Sir. Though I must say, your trust issues have reached an impressive architectural scale."
The Theft
I placed the disc in my inner coat pocket. I intended to transport it to the Wayne Enterprises vault in Zurich later that evening.
I walked up to the Manor kitchen to prepare dinner.
The kitchen was dark.
"Hello, Sebastian."
I stopped.
Sitting on the counter, polishing a curved scimitar, was a woman. She wore a green bodysuit and a look of regal arrogance.
Talia al Ghul. The Daughter of the Demon.
"Miss al Ghul," I said, not reaching for a weapon. "To what do I owe the pleasure? Master Bruce is currently brooding in the cave. Shall I buzz you down?"
"I'm not here for the Beloved," Talia said, sliding off the counter. "I'm here for the disc."
I raised an eyebrow. "I am afraid I do not know what you mean."
"Don't lie to me, Demon," Talia stepped closer. "My father, Ra's al Ghul, has eyes everywhere. He knows Bruce. He knows that after the earthquake, Bruce's fear would drive him to create weapons against his allies."
She held out her hand.
"Give it to me. Before my father takes it by force."
"And if I refuse?"
"Then we test if a butler bleeds."
Talia whistled.
From the pantry, the ceiling vents, and the hallway, shadows emerged. The League of Assassins. Elite ninjas.
I sighed. "I just cleaned this floor."
The Fight
Three ninjas lunged.
I moved. I caught the first blade with my silverware polishing cloth, twisting it out of the ninja's hand. I used the momentum to kick the second ninja into the refrigerator.
"Impressive," Talia noted. She drew a pistol and fired.
I dodged, the bullet grazing my shoulder. I threw a silver platter like a discus. It hit Talia's gun hand, knocking the weapon away.
"You are good," Talia hissed, drawing her sword. "But you are outnumbered."
Suddenly, the kitchen wall exploded.
BOOM.
A massive figure charged through the brickwork. It wasn't a ninja. It was Ubu, Ra's al Ghul's personal bodyguard.
Ubu tackled me. He was seven feet of muscle. He slammed me through the island counter, shattering granite and china.
The disc fell from my pocket. It slid across the floor.
Talia grabbed it.
"Got it," she smiled.
"No!" I roared, my eyes flaring red. I threw Ubu off me with demonic strength, sending him flying through the window.
I lunged for Talia.
She held up a device. A teleportation beacon.
"Give Bruce my love," Talia winked.
FLASH.
She vanished in a burst of green light.
I stood in the ruined kitchen, surrounded by unconscious ninjas. The disc was gone.
The Batcave - One Hour Later
Bruce stared at the empty table. He didn't yell. He went very, very quiet.
"She took it," Bruce whispered. "Ra's has the files."
"It was a coordinated strike, Sir," I reported, adjusting my torn suit. "They knew exactly when the transfer would happen."
"Ra's doesn't want the files to blackmail me," Bruce realized, horror dawning on his face. "He wants to use them. He wants to wipe out the Justice League so no one can stop his next purge."
"Then we must warn them," I said.
BEEP. BEEP. BEEP.
The Justice League emergency channel opened on the main screen.
It was Oracle (Barbara Gordon).
"Bruce!" Barbara shouted. "We have a situation! Global distress calls!"
"Report!"
"Martian Manhunter is in the Sahara Desert. He's... he's on fire! His skin is turning into magnesium! He can't stop burning!"
"The magnesium nanites," Bruce whispered. "File 1."
"Aquaman is in Atlantis," Barbara continued. "He's terrified of water! He's dehydrating on the beach because he thinks the ocean is acid! It's some kind of fear toxin!"
"File 2," Bruce closed his eyes.
"And Plastic Man... oh god... he's been frozen and shattered. His pieces are scattered across the North Pole."
"File 3."
Bruce stood up. He put on his cowl.
"Ra's has activated the Tower of Babel protocols. He's taking them out one by one."
"What about Superman?" I asked.
"Superman is the hardest to kill," Batman said. "Ra's will save him for last. We have to save the others first."
He turned to me.
"Sebastian. Pack your gear."
"Sir?"
"This isn't a detective mission," Batman said, loading specialized cartridges into his belt—antidotes, counter-frequencies, heat sinks. "This is a rescue mission. And I can't do it alone."
"I am ready, Sir."
"Good," Batman walked to the Batwing. "Because the Justice League is dying. And it's my fault."
The Sahara Desert - 2:00 AM
The heat was unbearable. Not from the sun, but from the screaming alien writhing in the sand.
J'onn J'onzz (Martian Manhunter) was engulfed in white flames. Every time he tried to phase, the magnesium coating on his skin reacted with the oxygen, burning hotter.
"Get away!" J'onn screamed telepathically. "THE FIRE! IT DOESN'T STOP!"
The Batwing hovered overhead.
"Sebastian," Batman ordered. "You have the heat sink?"
"I do, Sir."
I jumped from the jet. I held a device that looked like a large vacuum.
I landed in the sand. The heat was enough to singe my eyebrows.
"Mr. J'onzz!" I shouted. "You must solidify! If you stay intangible, the chemical reaction accelerates!"
"I CAN'T!" J'onn roared. He swung a burning fist at me.
I dodged. I activated the device. It sucked the oxygen from the immediate area, momentarily snuffing the flames.
"Now, Sir!" I yelled.
Batman dropped from the sky. He injected a neutralizing foam into J'onn's chest.
The flames died. J'onn collapsed, his skin charred and smoking, gasping for air.
"Bruce?" J'onn wheezed. "How... how did they know? My vulnerability to fire... it's psychological... how did they make it physical?"
Batman knelt beside him. He didn't answer. The guilt was etched into his cowl.
"We have him," Batman said into his comms. "One down. Five to go."
"Sir," I said, looking at the Batwing's sensors. "I am detecting a massive energy spike in Metropolis."
"Superman," Batman said.
"It appears Ra's has skipped the appetizers," I noted. "He is moving to the main course."
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