Justice League II: Dread

Chapter Twenty-Nine: Mount Justice II

Mount Justice II, 10/2/15, 12:53 AM

One Month Later...

Aqualad manned the console as things went on, as usual. Not entirely. Things had changed greatly since the fight against the Ring of Evil. The Justice League itself had been changed. It had lost some of it's greatest members in the past months. Superman was dead along with Aquaman, Batman, Captain Atom, the Atom, Blue Beetle, and now Beastboy. The need for publicity was high, Aqualad had taken Aquaman's mantle. Nightwing joined the Justice League taking Batman's place. Superboy joined as well taking Superman's place though without flight or heat-vision, it was going to be hard to play the part. The Team's leadership had been passed to Wondergirl. She and Aqualad were planning a few weeks off of the business, but he was not sure if they would be able to yet.

Wally was gone. He had ran off the day he killed Professor Zoom, and Flash had sped after him. Neither had returned yet. Aqualad wanted desperately to go after him, but they had new problems to deal with. League leadership had passed to Wonderwoman as one of the sole remaining founders.

The largest new problem though, was that of which Doctor Fate had brought to them. Some magic wielder, most likely Klarion, had destroyed a great shield that had rested upon the Earth protecting it from a great darkness. Doctor Fate had no yet informed them of what, but Kyle and John Stewart informed them that they would be asking the Guardians of Oa soon. That meant one of the Green Lanterns would be leaving, it was John.

Kyle, he had changed as well. He had killed Sinestro in the battle, and was still not the same. He had a face of guilt everyday. He seemed to feel ashamed of his act. Though one person defied this, Nightwing. Dick Grayson had killed Ra's Al Ghul, something Batman would have never permitted. But Dick always explained that Batman was dead, he was not holding him back anymore.

Then there was a new problem, Robin. Jason Todd had gone missing too during the battle. Still, the group had no clue where he was, the same could be said for Green Arrow whom had escaped his containment in the Cave. Damage still felt responsible for that.

Aqualad could barely believe all that had happened. Most villains had escaped their arrest. Black Adam had been caught. He was getting put away deep inside Belle Reve, which had a new warden: General Wade Eiling. Harvey Dent was out of the picture after evidence found that exposed him in helping Ra's Al Ghul. Amanda Waller had been found dead in Washington D.C as well, most likely the handy work of the League of Shadows.

Killing. That was all that had happened in the past few days. Beastboy was gone, something Aqualad could barely wrap his head around. Deathstroke had fulfilled his promise of killing him and he did. Miss Martian was changed. She was brooding, harsh, and cruel. Unlike her usual positive self, and Superboy could do little about it. He had told Kaldur how he wished he could help her, but she needed to heal on her own.

One thing was for certain, the next time Slade Wilson showed up it would be his last.

The disappearance of Jason Todd was still being looked into. Nightwing had deduced that his last location would probably have been Blüdhaven due to that being where Batman was killed. So, the group planned on heading there. Though, Aqualad and Nightwing were apart of the League Jason was still one of their assets that they had instated while on the Team. They were permitted to do this by Wonderwoman.

Aqualad looked over his shoulder as Nightwing moved up behind him.

"The squad is ready." He reported, Aqualad turned around seeing Wildebeast, Nightwing, Stargirl, Wondergirl, and Damage. A powerhouse group. They were ready for anything.

"Let's go then." Aqualad grinned as they headed for the zeta-tubes.

Blüdhaven, 10/2/15, 1:40 AM

The group continued moving throughout the city looking, but found nothing. They searched hard, until Nightwing found the mall at which Joker made his lair. They moved in slowly taking out the guards one-by-one. They burst in breaking through walls until they reached the Joker himself.

Nightwing took the Joker by the throat and pushed him up against a wall.

"WHERE IS ROBIN?" Nightwing yelled beating the Joker in the chest. Aqualad had knocked out Harvey Dent, whom had been hiding out in the mall as well.

"Haha! Funny! The old Robin looking for the new one!" The Joker grinned, "Ah younglings! Doing the older one's dirty work!"

"You will tell us where he is or else I'll-" Nightwing kept going, but Joker butt in.

"Or what? You'll kill me?! We both know you would never-!" The Joker laughed, but suddenly a gun shot rang through the air. Aqualad saw the blood on the Joker's face and turned around seeing someone standing in the doorway. Someone with a red-mask on.

"He might not, but I do." The figure said, it was obviously a male, but his voice was distorted. Probably due to the mask's tech.

"Who the hell-?" Nightwing turned around raising his batons, "HE WAS MY ONLY LEAD!"

"Too bad." The man said raising another pistol and firing at the group with both. Stargirl flew forward slamming at the man with her staff, but the man in the red mask ducked and slammed into her knocking her down.

Damage threw a punch at him, but the man grabbed his arm and shot his chest knocking Damage down. Aqualad widened his eyes rushing the man now as he shot Damage.

"DAMAGE! WONDERGIRL HELP!" A voice screamed amid the terror.

Wildebeast rushed the man, but he leaped over him and sent Wildebeast crashing into the wall.

"Who are you?!" Aqualad yelled slamming his trident at the man, but he merely slid to the side dropping a flash-bang down.

"The name is-"

More gunshots rang out, until finally the man yelled distinctively.

"The Red Hood."