I

In the middle of her mission, Talia was called back. No reason given, none needed. The Demon's Head, her father, required her. That was reason enough. But that didn't stop her mind from wondering why. Everything looked the same around the compound. The assassins that guarded the headquarters were no more tense than normal. There was no undercurrent of tension. Nothing seemed wrong. Yet, obviously, something was. And, standing before her father, she was about to find out what.

"How are your attempts with the Detective going, Daughter?" Sitting behind his desk, the Demon's Head asked.

"They are," Talia hesitated, "They have since been unsuccessful. My beloved remains steadfast that there is a better way than killing. But," she added hastily, "He will see the truth. I just need more time."

Nodding indifferently, he redirected the conversation.

"Do you remember the break-in at LexCorp, just when Luthor and Superman started their childish feud?"

"Of course, Father. The League was framed for it, so Luthor put a bounty on our most well-known members. You had our men looking for the real culprit."

"Had is the keyword there, Daughter. We have finally found him."

"Him? I thought you didn't know who it was?"

"I had a suspicion."

"Who is it?"

Redirecting the conversation again, he continued his questions.

"Do you know how Savage got his scars?"

"Of course, Father. Back when he was still mortal, a bear he was hunting struck him."

Letting out a chuckle filled with contempt, he said, "No. That's what he tells his followers. He doesn't want them to know that their god was struck down and at the mercy of someone else, even when he wasn't mortal."

"How do you know?"

He showed a smirk, "I was there when he got it."

"You're saying the person who gave Savage his scars was the one who broke into LexCorp? Who is he?"

"Lukas Pierre. A man I knew from over two hundred years ago. The weapon that won America most of its wars."

"Two hundred years ago? How is he still alive?"

"I do not know," he revealed, "He exhibited a small range of powers, but I was not aware a long life was one of them."

"Was he your friend?"

"A friend," he tested the word, "Lukas was not. More like somebody I took a passing interest in. Like the Detective."

"What are we going to do about him?"

"You, my daughter, are going to get in contact with him. He's in Metropolis, bring him here. It's time I see what has become of him. And who knows, he might even be your new betrothed. He always was the type to share my ideologies."

"Father," she protested, "my beloved might not share your view of the world just yet, but don't forget what drew you to him. He's a man that few can surpass. I can get him to join our side."

"You," he stressed, "are not making progress with the obstinate Detective, Daughter, not I. Though the bat is a prime candidate to be my heir, Lukas is not one to be underestimated. Now go, he moves fast and I can't afford to lose one of my best chances at getting an heir because you have become infatuated. You're my daughter, Talia, do not fail me."

"Of course, Father. I'll leave now."

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

It took some time to track him down. Her father wasn't wrong, he moved fast. According to the League's informants, he was in Metropolis for a moment. But then he was sighted in Salem, then Coast City, and now she's finally caught him, in Central City. in an unfinished and open construction site, at night. He must have discovered someone tailing him and no doubt intended this spot to be a trap for his potential enemy. And, though she did in part count as one, her mission wasn't to hurt him.

"Lukas Pierre," she called out into the darkness, "My name is Talia al Ghul, my father sent me."

"I know," a deep masculine voice responded calmly, bouncing from the edges of the shadows, "But, why?"

"He wants to meet you."

"Meet me? I haven't seen him in a couple hundred years and he sends Ms. Femme Fatale to fetch me? That's not a move he would make. You see, Ra's and I, we have a certain respect for each other. This, on the other hand, well it seems quite… disrespectful. You get one more chance to make me believe Ra's isn't trying to start something." The voice informed, closing in around her.

Spinning around, she threw a knife at where she assumed him to be, "I assure you, Mr. Pierre," she continued, "My father sent me, but only so that he could offer you a deal."

The voice didn't reply for a minute, but she didn't hear the telltale sound of a knife piercing flesh or hitting the floor, so he must have caught it, and was still there, watching her. But, just as she took a defensive position, and thought he might try to attack her, she heard a hum.

"You know why he wants me." He stated, his breath so close it was almost tickling her neck, "Tell me the reason."

Rolling away and bringing out a pair of knives, her eyes surveyed the area while her mouth answered. "He wants to see if you'll join us. To see if you are worthy of being his heir, the next leader of the League of Shadows."

"The next leader of the League of Shadows? Wasn't it the Society of Shadows just a few years ago? And before that, wasn't it the League of Assassins? What, is the assassination game trying to be more kid-friendly?"

"We are known by many names, Mr. Pierre. Now, will you be joining me on my way back, or will I be forced to drag you there?"

The silence stood for another moment before she heard the fall of feet. Directly in front of her line of sight, the darkness was cut through by a large figure clad in white. Lukas Pierre, her target, the man who her father was interested in, was right there. Wearing a hooded robe only lightly armored, and a similarly colored mask concealing his lower face, the only revealed part of the man was his glowing, sharp brown eyes locked onto her green ones. And so, they stood there for a second, analyzing each other, before Lukas broke their shared gaze and walked to the exit.

"I guess I will be joining you," He said.

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

The trip back to Infinity Island, back to her father, was made in almost complete silence. In Talia's case, it was because she did her duty, an unwanted one for certain, but nevertheless, she did it. Now her job was done, she wasn't ordered to talk to the man. As for Lukas, he seemed to sleep, which fortunately gave her a way to observe the man, without attracting his attention.

He was big, she noticed. Not just in height, but in muscle mass too. He no doubt held a significant amount of strength. She also caught sight of many weapons and devices on the inside of his robes from when he loosened them. A couple throwing knives, a mini blow-dart gun, a sword, a few guns, and a plethora of unidentifiable pellets. That combined with the armor she was getting to examine in closer detail, and she was seeing why her father thought this guy belonged in the League. She hasn't seen someone so well equipped and skilled in stealth since her beloved, and even he can't fully hide from her. Not to mention wearing all white.

This man was exactly the type of person her father was looking for. His equipment showed his willingness to kill. His expertise in stealth showed his skill. And, even when he was resting, he exuded this dangerous feeling, like a hunter lying in wait. The same feeling she got from her father. It seems that while her beloved took a different path, this man followed the same one her father did.

"We're here." She heard the supposed-to-be-unconscious man say.

Looking away from him and to their surroundings, the shore of Infinity Islands, she noted he was right. She also noted that he shouldn't have any way of knowing that.

"Get up," she ordered, "Father is no doubt waiting."

She heard him grumble, but was already on her way to finish the assignment and turn over her father's temporary object of interest. She didn't care about his dissatisfaction, she just wanted to get back to her original mission, back to her true beloved.