123 CHAPTER 121

RING! RING! RING!

Gwen's voice alerted Tom to an incoming call from Deathstroke. "At this hour? Doesn't he ever sleep?" Tom grumbled as he reluctantly rose from his bed and made his way to his desk, where his laptop awaited. Deathstroke rarely called without good reason, so there must be something important on his mind.

"Hello, Slade. Whatever it is, make it quick. I was in the middle of something important," Tom said, still half-asleep and slightly annoyed at the interruption.

"Don't worry, I'll get straight to the point," Slade's voice echoed through the speaker.

"Good, go ahead," Tom replied, sinking into his office chair and absentmindedly spinning in circles, as if bored.

"During the meeting in Las Vegas, you mentioned an upcoming war. Then later on you said it would lead to the potential loss of people's minds, turning them into mindless zombies under Lex Luthor's control."

"Yes, I did. Is there a problem?" Tom asked, a hint of curiosity creeping into his voice.

"Just one. Do you have protective measures in place? Since you plan to use the chaos to your advantage, both for the outlaws and your business partners, you need a way to safeguard them."

"You seem to forget who you pledged your allegiance to. But yes, I do," Tom replied casually, even picking his nose with his pinky finger. "I know you must be thinking about assassinating Lex right off the bat, but we need this war to happen. Imagine letting Lex and Grodd unleash havoc until the heroes and the public have lost all hope. Then, the Outlaws—our group of criminals—step in to save the day. How do you think the public and even the heroes will view us?"

"They would see us as their saviors. Even the heroes would owe us a debt of gratitude. It's a well-thought-out plan, Ghost," Deathstroke responded, contemplating the idea.

"Exactly, their minds wouldn't be able to differentiate between heroes and villains because the villains do a better job at cleaning up, than the heroes do. Did you watch the broadcast the other night when Ace ended Joker for good?"

"Yes, I did. He's got some nerve to pull that off while airing it," Deathstroke remarked.

"Indeed, he does. And now, he's one of us, one of the Outlaws," Tom stated matter-of-factly.

"You recruited him?" Deathstroke inquired, a mix of surprise and curiosity in his voice.

"Yes, I did. He defeated the Young Justice, killed Sinestro, and put an end to Joker's reign. He's proven himself useful. Any issue working with him?" Tom asked, waiting for Deathstroke's response.

"I don't know. It depends on his attitude. But that's quite a feat. And he certainly draws a lot of attention from the heroes," Deathstroke admitted.

"He does, but he can be reasonable when he wants to be. Plus, he's strong enough to avoid capture by the Justice League," Tom assured him.

"Well, if you say so, boss. Now, back to my initial question. How do you intend to protect our minds from Grodd?" Deathstroke inquired.

"Don't worry, there's a device in development that will shield our minds from psychic attacks if we come within range," Tom explained confidently.

"Are you sure it will work?" Deathstroke pressed, seeking reassurance.

"Trust me, Slade. It will," Tom reassured him with conviction.

"Okay." With that, Deathstroke ended the call, and Tom retired back to his bed. "It's better to keep my true motives for the war to myself." Tom muttered to himself as he gave a yawn and fell asleep.

...

[Back at the Justice League Headquarters]

Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, Flash, Green Lantern, Aquaman, and the rest of the Justice League assembled around a massive table in their meeting hall. Lex Luthor's impending invasion and Ace's recent actions were the main topics of discussion.

"Where do we stand with the psychic dampeners?" Superman inquired, directing his gaze at Flash, Batman, and Cyborg, who were in charge of the project.

"We've completed the devices and conducted several tests with Martian Manhunter using his psychic abilities to attempt mind-reading. The devices are fully operational and ready. We just have to hope they can withstand Grodd's amplified powers," Cyborg responded confidently.

"Good to hear. Whenever Lex decides to launch his attack, we'll be ready for him," Aquaman declared, nodding slightly with his arms crossed.

"What's the status on Ace?" Wonder Woman asked, turning her question to the group at large.

Everyone's attention immediately shifted to Batman, who calmly pressed a button by his side, causing a holographic screen to materialize above the table. The screen displayed the scene from the night when Ace had killed Joker.

"We haven't been able to track him down. We still don't understand how he made Joker's head explode. He may have employed nanotechnology, but regardless, he needs to be apprehended," Batman explained, his voice laced with determination.

"I must say, the murder rate across the country has significantly dropped. Even the evildoers seem to be afraid of him," Green Lantern commented, eyeing Batman.

"Even in Gotham, the murder rate has decreased, which is quite out of character for our city. Criminals have become more cautious, committing crimes discreetly out of fear that Ace will expose them by capturing their image and revealing their identities. They know he can strike fear into their hearts more than I ever could," Batman grumbled, visibly annoyed by Ace's ability to instill fear.

"We need to mobilize and apprehend him the next time he surfaces. His next targets might be Lex and Grodd when he learns of their plans to enslave humanity and impose their will," Superman declared, rising from his seat and pacing the room as he contemplated his next move. "The next time he shows up, I'll have to stop him myself. This menace has gone on long enough. No one is above the law, and I intend to teach him that."

"We still don't fully comprehend the extent of his powers. I wouldn't advise going in blindly," Flash cautioned, concerned for his teammate's safety.

"Is it just me, or did he sound worried about me?" Superman mused, a hint of amusement in his voice.

"Nah, he definitely did," Cyborg chimed in, joining the rest of the League in giving Batman a surprised stare.

"Just a thought. Remember, Ace sees this as a game, and rushing in blindly might play right into his hands," Batman advised, his words causing a momentary silence as the team pondered his warning.

*Ahem*

Aquaman cleared his throat, breaking the silence and redirecting the conversation. "Since we now have a means to defend against Lex Luthor's attack, we need to put measures in place for the fast evacuation of citizens. Knowing Lex, Metropolis will be his primary target, and he'll aim to eliminate Superman as quickly as possible."

"That's a valid point. I've already devised emergency evacuation protocols, which I'll review with the team after this meeting," Batman announced, brushing off Superman's earlier remark.

"I can't say I'm surprised anymore," Superman muttered, his voice filled with resignation. "The Young Justice will handle the evacuation of citizens while we deal with Lex and his minions." Batman continues, completely ignoring Superman's remark to his previous statement. 

The meeting continued, each member of the Justice League contributing their expertise and insights, united in their mission to protect humanity from the impending threats that loomed on the horizon. 

… 

[Back at the Batcave later that evening] 

After the meeting, Batman sat before an array of monitors, his gloved fingers tapping on the keyboard with unwavering focus. The screens displayed a comprehensive plan, each step meticulously crafted to counter any unforeseen contingencies Lex might pull. Immersed in his thoughts, Batman scrutinized the information on the screen, delving deep into the intricacies of his strategy.

A familiar voice broke his concentration. "Hey, Bruce. What are you up to?" Superman's warm tone resonated through the Batcave as he approached Batman.

Without turning his gaze away from the monitors, Batman responded in his usual curt manner, his eyes fixated on the information before him. "What do you want, Clark? I'm a little busy at the moment."

Superman stood his ground, undeterred by Batman's dismissive attitude. "About what you said earlier, why does Diana have to come with me? I believe I can handle Ace on my own," Superman queried, taking a step closer to Batman, his expression sincere.

Finally, Batman swiveled his chair, swiveling to face Superman, his intense gaze piercing through his cowl. "You're forgetting that Ace possesses Kryptonite. It's a risk I won't take lightly. Besides, we don't know what else he might have up his sleeve," Batman explained, his voice laced with caution.

Superman nodded, understanding the gravity of Batman's concerns. "Alright, I see your point. We'll face him together," he conceded, acknowledging the importance of teamwork in the face of unknown threats.

A brief silence hung in the air as Batman and Superman exchanged unspoken understanding. They had weathered countless battles, their dynamic built on a foundation of trust and respect. Although they were opposites, It was a unique bond, forged through trials and adversity.

"Good," Batman replied, breaking the silence. "I'm glad you understand. Now, I have work to do. You should get back to whatever you were doing," he dismissed, his attention already refocused on his monitors.

Superman smiled wryly, accepting Batman's gruff demeanor for what it was—a testament to his unwavering dedication to protecting Gotham and the world. "I'll leave you to it then," he said, turning to exit the Batcave.

As Superman walked away, Batman returned to his work, his mind racing with calculations and contingency plans. He knew that facing Lex and Grodd would be no ordinary challenge, and he needed to be prepared for every eventuality. Deep within the shadows of the Batcave, he continued his relentless vigil, knowing that the fate of their world hung in the balance.

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