Chapter 18 War Of The Bounty Hunters 2

[Of course, that won't be enough to base your assumptions on. After all, you could all just be ignorant kids with a thing for superheroes. That changes however for someone who knows about a certain black Ops team doing things in the shadows for the league that they, due to their hypocritical moral integrity and the fact that it would cause trouble for them if the United Nations found out, can't]

As soon as he heard this part, General Lane, who was usually expressionless, had his face harden considerably. A cold light flashed though his eyes as his gaze turned towards the League Members.

"Shit!" Batman cursed inwardly. Things were developing very wrongly.

He looked at General Lane, who had a gloomy expression.

"So if I'm not wrong, the league deemed it fit to create a Black Ops team consisting of your proteges to infiltrate areas where the league are restricted from entering themselves. This clearly violates your agreement with the world council, correct me if I am mistaken".

General Lane's face returned to its indifference, but his eyes were clearly more hostile than they ever were.

The severity of this matter was much more extreme than the layman could understand.

The government didn't interfere in League matters, while the league stayed out of the way of the government.

Abstinence from the territory of nations who refuse to permit the league to enter their borders was clearly stated in their agreement.

Now it seemed like the league decided not to uphold their end of the bargain.

Impeding into restricted territory was a grave issue, which was why the Black Ops team was strictly covert, and its information wasn't publicly disclosed.

Of course the league had their reasons as nations they weren't welcomed in, usually had high criminal activity.

An example was the Santa Prisca incident with Banes factory alongside the Cobra venom and project blockbuster. These potent drugs capable of making enhanced soldiers were dangerous commodities if it feels into the wrong hands.

The fact that they were being created and spread covertly would give the league numerous headaches. Therefore, they needed to be neutralized in its infancy.

As long as the proteges acted quickly and left no solid traces as verifiable evidence, it wouldn't matter. After all, the villains couldn't possibly sue them without evidence, and they certainly can't stand as witnesses in court.

But now that the matter had come to light, it was a different case altogether.

Bruce knew that the league would probably soon get a summon from the world council, which would give them headaches for months due to their underhanded moves.

But it couldn't be helped. Who told their enemies to hide in the dark, while they could only be open and upfront in their actions?

"The league can explain our actions and will do so in the next summoning". Batman said in a blank tone, masking his emotions as best he could.

He turned to look at Amari, even more cautious than earlier.

A smile hung in his lips as he really seemed to relish the situation they found themselves in.

"Do you still want to continue, Batman?" He asked with his trademark indifference.

"Go on!" His curt reply showed his determination to not turn back until the camel's back broke from the last straw.

"Batman..... is this appropriate?" Flash asked in hesitation. The other members of the league felt hesitant as well.

Truthfully speaking, they were starting to get a little unsettled at this point from the frequent losses they were incurring in this altercation.

The thoughts of ending this flashed I'm their minds, but Batman still wanted to keep it going.

Bruce didn't reply as he looked at the alien intently.

"You're quite tenacious. I'll give you that". Amari said, and the hologram continued.

He understood what was going through Bruce's mind at the moment. It was the mindset of a man who was gambling everything else, simply because he didn't have much left to lose.

Bruce had already weighed the pro's and con's and was determined to see if there was any point he could grab onto to stake a claim.

"I can't say you're wrong. But the more you perform, the more my mind won't feel at ease until I bring you in. Your scheming capabilities are too good. No matter what anyone says, someone like you running free is too much of a risk to condone".

He paused as he measured his words.

"At least not until we deem you aren't a threat anymore". Bruce's tone had taken a softer touch. Those who knew him well would be surprised, and surprised the league were.

Batman wasn't as aggressive as before. Although adamant, but still. Not to mention that although he was criticizing Amari, he was also praising his skills. This was recognition from the Bat of Gotham. Not many people received such from Bruce. Usually, he was always like 'I'm Batman'.

Nevertheless, they all understood his predicament.

The league's bargaining chips were reducing by the minute, and Bruce didn't have any moral edge to hold on to for an aggressive push. In fact, the league could very well be in a pickle.

"Hehehe, a risk? Coming from someone so paranoid that he makes contingency plans to incapacitate his allies if they ever go rogue, those words seem somewhat tasteless".

Amari chuckled.

Everyone in the league had their faces change in extreme shock. They couldn't believe it. Bruce would actually... everyone here considered the next person as allies they could count on. Some as close as family. The thought that Batman could do such a thing didn't even cross their minds.

Even now, they subconsciously refused to believe it. But seeing Bruce sitting quietly without a ripple in his features, any words of defense they wanted to come up with hooked in their throats.

"To you, everything and everyone powerful is a possible threat, which leads you to create countermeasures to deal with them. It might be admirable to some, but it's plain annoying to me. That is why I didn't bother searching for the league upon my arrival". Amari said leisurely while the rest of the league were still reeling in from the shock.

Honestly, Batman was a pain to be around every so often.

The video continued until the superboy attacked. It still continued even after everyone was out of the Café that was presently in ruins, up until the arrival and defeat of green lantern.

"I believe you can all see it clearly. From the moment it started, I never initiated an attack on your proteges.

Superboy however was the first to attack and the others followed. The situation with green lantern is similar. If this case were truly taken to court, then my actions can only be classified within self defense". Amari said lightly, his smile had receded to indifference.

"Although I would like to get on with things that actually require my attention, I'm up for it if you still want to go to court. Of course, I would have to give a lot of sensitive information to my lawyer so he could properly defend me. This video would most definitely be used as a form of evidence to my claim as well. The difference being, the faces won't be blurred next time".

"So I ask again to all you Leaguers. Do you still want to continue finding reasons to detain me?" Silence was what greeted him.

No one spoke as the seconds passed by.

Amari's gaze swept over them.

"I didn't think so". He said lightly, and the holographic display disappeared completely.

Bruce looked at Amari with narrowed eyes. His heart presently was rather heavy.

After a long period of silence, he finally opened his mouth.

"..... How do we know you won't cause trouble".

"Batman....." Clark said, a little dumbfounded at the revelation. He understood the meaning laced within those words. Bruce was conceding.

The almighty, tough, no nonsense Batman was actually forced to a compromise. The fact alone astonished Clark more than anything that happened in this past month.

Batman felt surreal as well. He never thought he would actually be forced to this point. Not only that, the league now had complications they needed to deal with.

Lantern was injured. All in all, this whole farce could be considered quite a failure. Batman would be a fool if he tried to keep pressing, plus here was nothing he could do to prevent.

"It's ok Superman. At this point, there's nothing we can do about it. Arguing will get us nowhere". Batman said, his attention still on the alien.

"How do we know that you won't do something to harm humanity?"

"How does me assuring you have anything to do with me?" Amari replied tacitly

"We know nothing about you, where you are from and what your motives are for coming here. The danger you pose isn't light, but since we can't interfere, the government will take full responsibility for any of your actions". His expressionless face said curtly as he relaxed his stuff posture.

His gaze turned to General Lane, who only gave a curt nod with an icy glare.

"Judging by your logic, then the in the eyes of the government, the whole league are dangerous individuals who should be detained and questioned about their identities. But I don't see you guys going down that route now, are you?"

Amari lazily replied. His words were resounding like a slap in the face.

They wanted him to identify himself, yet they refused to let the world know who they were.

"Splendid. Now that this is over, I believe it is rather late in your time and I have grown rather tired of seeing your faces. So goodbye". Amari stood up from his comfortable chair.

His indifferent face as exquisite as always as his purple eyes glowed bright.

"Wait!" Diana shouted to get his attention.

"Can you at least tell us what you are and where you are from".

"No I cannot. Well, more like I will not. If you want to know, then ask the government. I believe they will be more than happy to shed some light". He answered nonchalantly, causing Diana to frown.

"Then what are you doing here? What do you want?" Clark asked with an intent gaze.

"You'll find out soon enough. It's not like I'm going to be hiding it".

"You know we won't stop investigating. Even if we can't touch you, we will keep an eye on you. As long as you make one wrong move, we will stop you".

"I doubt you could do anything to me even if I had planned anything malicious, but I welcome you to try. Besides, I doubt you'll have time to care about my actions when yours is about to lead your world to peril".

"What do you mean by that?" Everyone in the league looked alert at him. Batman said with a growl, while Superman looked on intently.

"Oh don't worry, you'll find out soon enough". And with that, he disappeared from their view without a trace. Leaving the rest of the league with solemn expressions.

General Lane didn't have anything else to do here, so he walked towards the exit without saying a word. Steve Trevor hesitated a bit before following Lane towards the exit.

"... Bruce..... We need to talk". Diana said in a solemn tone. The rest of the Leaguers also stared at Batman intensely.

Her using his real name instead of Batman showed how serious she was on the issue to come.

Bruce inwardly sighed.

This was gonna be a long day.

...

The Universe

Star Sector, Unknown

A Fleet consisting of several Neo engineered spacecrafts travelled through the void of space.

Their mission, a constant search for an individual whose name echoed the universe.

How long they had been searching was unknown, but they were determined to find their target.

And today, they found it.

"Is it confirmed?" The voice was hoarse, deep and sounded completely inhuman. Like the person who uttered those words weren't human to begin with.

"It is Sire. His approximate location has been pinpointed". Another voice replied, equally inhuman as the first.

"Where is he now?"

"In a backward sector. 2814. There his life signature resides. Albeit feeble".

"For him? How is that possible?"

"This one knows not, Sire".

"Set a course for this sector. Arm the fleet at ready".

"Yes..."

...

Another part of the universe.

"Earth? Why there?"

"Apparently, for a bounty. News of a certain possible Kryptonian".

"A survivor of Krypton? No wonder. But in this primitive sector? Who released this news?

"No official confirmation. But some say Apocalypse Star".

... Silence reigned.

"Do we still advance?"

"The Argulian royal family want him dead. Since they can't kill him, life imprisonment will suffice".

"But....."

"It's either this, or we die.... Lady Acharna of Argul isn't merciful. We have no choice".

Silence reigned again but no one spoke

...

"Hahahaha! Mad Biker. I finally found you. Just wait for us all. Haha… Just you wait!" The made laughter quickly turned into a menacing growl.

....

In a separate dimension, somewhere floating within its void. A certain spaceship of kryptonian origins that had remained inactive for years on suddenly powered up.

Whether it was coincidental or triggered, no one knew.

The blonde female laying within certainly didn't as she was frozen in deep sleep.

The Kryptonian pod began to move, shooting forward with the intent to escape this dimension.

Something larger of unknown origins followed behind.

...

Sector 2814.

Earth.

Amari sat within a rather large mansion. He sat on the terrace as his eyes gazed at the beautiful moonlight and the twinkling stars in the sky.

"Looks like the league is about to get busy". He said with indifference, but his eyes flashed amusingly.

.....

I'll be very busy in the coming few days so updates might drop from daily to every two to three days.

Just wanted to let you all know.

Also, can someone please explain why I don't see my fanfic anymore on the monthly rankings but still see it in all time rankings.