503 C503 The Cycle Continues

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The Watchtower, an awe-inspiring space station that served as the Justice League's base of operations, orbited silently above the Earth. Its massive structure gleamed in the cosmic backdrop, an emblem of strength and unity. The exterior of the Watchtower was adorned with the iconic emblem of the League, a beacon for hope and justice.

Inside, on one of the top floors, Superman gently laid his beloved Lois on the spacious bed of his private room. He had brought her to the Watchtower, not as a hero, but as a husband and soon-to-be father. The need to protect her and their unborn child had become his paramount concern. He gazed at her with affection, the weight of responsibility heavy on his broad shoulders.

As he ensured Lois was comfortable and safe, Batman stood stoically in the doorway, his scowl more pronounced than ever. The tension between the two iconic figures was palpable, a reflection of the current divide among the Justice League.

Meanwhile, in the cafeteria, Peter and Tony sat at a table, savoring their burgers. Batman managed to separate them from Superman, hoping to talk some sense into him before the League meeting started.

Superman, without turning away from Lois, softly inquired, "Did you call everyone?"

Batman replied curtly, "Yes, I called for a full-scale League meeting."

Clark nodded, "And will Flash be joining us? Or is he too busy hiding the Joker from me?"

Bruce shook his head. "No, and he's not hiding the Joker from you. I know you won't kill him, you're better than that. You may be contemplating his death, but you haven't come to a decision yet." He said, and he wasn't wrong. "I'm hiding him from Diana and our guests. Diana's attitude is troubling but our guests are another story entirely. We can't let them corrupt and destroy everything that we've built..."

Clark's eyes remained fixed on Lois, their love a source of solace and concern. He acknowledged Bruce's point with a nod. "I understand that you're opposed to killing, but you should at least keep an open mind. Because what we're doing now isn't working, you have to see that, right? I didn't truly notice it until today…"

Bruce's resolve hardened. "It may not be perfect, but the way we do things is the right way."

Clarke shook his head. "And that's where we disagree. Hopefully, having more voices might help us reach some sort of understanding."

Bruce couldn't argue with that, but he also couldn't shake his fundamental beliefs. He finally spoke his mind, "I'll be honest, Clark. I'm conflicted about all of this. I've always followed a strict code against killing, and I know it's a slippery slope, but so is murdering every criminal that p*sses us off. We aren't gods, nor are we the government. We can't just go around acting like Judge, Jury, and executioner."

Clark nodded, his mind racing with all sorts of ideas. "You're right, we aren't gods… But we could easily be the government if we wanted to. It would take less than a day for me to take over this entire planet, and less than an hour if I had the Leagues backing."

Bruce's eyes go wide in shock. "You can't be serious…"

Clark, still focused on Lois, took a deep breath before turning to Bruce. "You know, Bruce, I don't blame you for not killing the Joker. I know you're just a man trying to do your best in an impossible world, like me and every other League member. But I do blame the system, the government. Our guests were right when they said the Joker should have been sentenced to death by now. After all, how many thousands of people has he killed?"

Bruce but clenched his fists and answered. "79,698…" he kept count of every single murder.

Clark froze for a moment, not realizing that it was actually that much. "And that's all that's been linked to him. I wonder how many murders we don't know about…" The room went quiet for a moment. "Bruce, I think I'm starting to realize just how corrupt and ineffective our justice system is."

Batman's shoulders slumped as he let out a tired sigh. "Yes, but that doesn't mean we have to-" He began to argue, but just then, Wonder Woman appeared behind him at the end of the hall, her presence commanding attention.

"The League members have arrived and are waiting for us to start the meeting," she informed them.

Clark nodded, his talk with Bruce only seemed to strengthen his resolve. "Bruce, Diana, go ahead of me," he instructed. "I'll pick up our guests from the cafeteria..."

"I don't think non-league members should be-" Bruce tried to protest, but Diana firmly took his arm, guiding him away, leaving Clark to prepare for the difficult discussions that awaited.

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In the meeting room in the Watchtower, every chair was occupied by members of the Justice League. The room buzzed with anticipation and curiosity as they waited for Superman to arrive, accompanied by the unfamiliar faces of Peter and Tony.

When the trio entered, it was evident that everyone was curious about the newcomers, their identities shrouded in mystery. Superman led Peter and Tony to empty seats and offered them a respectful nod before taking his own place. He motioned to Batman, indicating that it was time to provide a briefing.

Shazam couldn't contain his curiosity and blurted out, "Where's Flash?"

Batman assured the group, "We'll get to that, but there are more pressing matters to discuss." He proceeded to explain the recent events, the Joker's sinister plan to deceive Superman into committing an unthinkable act, and his plot to destroy Metropolis.

As the story unfolded, the League members listened in rapt attention. Batman continued, begrudgingly emphasizing how Peter and Tony had thwarted the Joker's scheme. The new guests earned nods of respect and acknowledgment from the gathered heroes.

Green Arrow raised an eyebrow and inquired, "So, did you call us here just to give us a mission report? Sounds like a waste of time..."

"No." Superman interjected, silencing the room. "Today's events have opened my eyes to a bigger problem, a problem I want to discuss with the League. I need your perspectives."

Aquaman questioned, "What problem are you referring to?"

Wonder Woman, her voice resolute, declared, "The problem is criminals like the Joker. No matter how many times we arrest him, he escapes, repeats his crimes, and innocent people pay the price, often with their lives or the lives of their loved ones."

Tension filled the room as her words hung heavily in the air. Shazam posed the inevitable question, "What are we supposed to do about it? Isn't our job to catch the criminals and let the government handle the rest?"

Superman affirmed Shazam's point and then added, "Yes, but I want to change that. The way we operate needs to change before more people get hurt or, worse, killed because of our negligence and leniency."

Black Adam spoke up, his voice a mix of interest and curiosity, "Do you mean what I think you mean, Superman? Are you suggesting we kill people?"

Superman paused for a moment, his gaze unwavering, before nodding. "If it's necessary, yes. If killing people like the Joker, who have killed over 70 thousand innocent people, will stop others from sharing the same fate, then yes."

The room erupted into a debate, with some heroes supporting Superman's stance and others vehemently opposing it.

Seeing an opportunity, Peter pulled out his phone and connected to a large screen in the room, projecting images of atrocities occurring across the globe, from war crimes to small-scale holocausts and prison camps. The League members watched in grim silence, their faces reflecting a mixture of distress and helplessness.

Batman scowled and inquired, "How did you manage to hack into our systems?"

Peter, with a smirk, admitted, "It was fairly easy. After all, your tech is about 20 or 30 years behind ours."

Tony added, "Don't be too hard on yourselves. We're arguably the best hackers you'll ever meet. There's no system we can't break into."

Turning back to the League, Peter began to explain, "You see, these atrocities can easily be prevented, but they're hindered by the League's self-imposed limitations. What's stopping you from putting an end to war on this planet? If no one has weapons, then how can they fight? And even then, if they keep fighting with their bare hands, then simply arrest them or scare them into peace."

Tony chimed in, adding, "Where we're from, we faced similar issues. However, once we formed the Avengers, all wars came to an end. All countries knew the Avengers would hold them accountable for their actions, so everyone became much more open to peaceful outcomes."

Peter's gaze swept across the room, and he confessed, "I have to be honest and say that this won't solve everything. Even our world still has problems, but it's far less severe than the world I see before me now."

Superman regained the spotlight, his tone earnest, "Why must we let these atrocities pass? Why can't we help? Why can't we at least try to save everyone? Why are we holding back when we could assist so many people? And most of all, why do people like the Joker deserve to live?"

Just as the impact of his words resonated troughs the room, the screen suddenly changed and displayed a groggy-looking Flash through a video call, his suit was torn and he seemed to be bleeding from his head.

With a grim expression, Flash delivered the unsettling news to the League, "The Joker escaped!"

Peter couldn't help but shake his head in exasperation, "And the cycle continues."

A/N: 1628 words :)

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