Young Justice: Outsiders

Watchtower Meeting

Orbital mirrors rotated, resolving the faint light of Earth's sun to erase the stars; two space stations crosshatched the sky with contrails of chemical air trails, bleaching away the last reminders of the rubble of days past; chill remnants of night slid down the round table of the Watchtower; and within the cloistered chamber itself, Batman was still trying to talk them out of it.

"Yes, of course I trust him," he said patiently. "We can always trust Nightwing to do what he thinks is right. But we can't trust him to do what he's told. He can't be made to simply obey. Believe me: I've been trying for many years."

Conflicting currents of mental thoughts swirled and clashed in the Council Chamber. Traditionally, decisions of the Justice League were reached by quiet, mutual contemplation of the flow of nature, until all the league was of a single mind on the matter.

"An unintentional opportunity, the President has given us," Martian Manhunter said gravely. "A window he has opened into the operations of his office. It would be foolish to close our eyes."

"Then we should use someone else's eyes," Batman said "Forgive me, J'onn, but you just don't know him the way I do. None of you does. He is fiercely loyal, and there is not a gram of deception in him. You've all seen it; it's one of the arguments that some of you, here in this room, have used against elevating him to a member of this league: he lacks true reserve, that's what you've said. And by that we all mean that he wears his emotions like a news banner. How can you ask him to take this task?"

"That is why we must call upon a friend to ask him," said John Steward in his gentle baritone.

"You don't understand. Don't make him choose between me and Tim-"

"Why not?" asked the mature reply of Captain Marvel. "Do you fear you would lose such a contest?"

"You don't know how much Tim's friendship has meant to him over the years. After Jason died, he and Tim have been almost inseparable. Their relationship will never be the same-"

"And that," Black Lightning said, "may be the best argument in favor of this plan. I have told you all what I have seen of the energy between Nightwing and Robin. Anything that might distance Nightwing from Robin is worth the attempt."

Batman didn't need his words to know that he would lose this argument. He inclined his head. "I will, of course, abide by the ruling of the league."

"None of us has that doubt." Martian Manhunter turned his green gaze on the other councilors. "But if to be done, we must decide how to use best him."

Captain Atom flickered his eyes in and out of focus as the original Atom leaned forward, folding his hands. "I, too have reservations on this matter, but it seems that in these desperate times, only desperate plans have hope of success. We have seen that Nightwing has the power to battle a rogue Kryptonian alone, if need be; he has proven that with Lor-Zod. If he is indeed able to have that strength, we must keep him in play against the Light-keep him in a position to fulfill his destiny."

"And even if the battle was unfairly finished by a newcomer," Wonder Woman added, "Nightwing is the one member of Young Justice we can best hope would survive an encounter with a member of the Light. So let us also use him to help us set our trap. In this, let us emphasize that we are intensifying our search for other allies and members of the Light. Nightwing will certainly report this to us. Perhaps, as you say, that will draw the Light into action."

"It may not be enough," Hawkman said. "Let us take this one step farther-we should appear shorthanded, and weak, giving the Light an opening to make a move he thinks will go unobserved. I'm thinking that perhaps we should let the Oval Office know that Martian Manhunter and I have both been forced to take the field-"

"Too risky," Green Lantern said. "And too convenient. One of us should go."

"Then it should be you, Hal," Guy Gardner said. "It is your sensitivity to the broader currents of the ring's power that a member of the Light has most reason to fear."

Hal felt the ripple of agreement flow through the Chamber, and John nodded solemnly. "The Light setting up camp on Apokolips is a compelling excuse. And they have good relations with Darkseid; we'll send the team over there, and still be available to Earth, should any surviving member take our bait."

"Agreed." Flash looked around the Council Chamber with a deepening frown. "And one last touch. Let's let the team know, through Nightwing, that our most cunning and insightful leader-and our most tenacious-is to lead the hunt for the Light and the missing members of the other Lantern Corps."

"So the Light will need to act, and act fast, if the war is to be maintained," Red Tornado added approvingly.

Plastic Man nodded judiciously. "Agreed." Hawkwoman assented as well, and Aquaman.

"This sounds like a good plan," Batman said. "But what leader do you have in mind?"

For a moment no one spoke, as though astonished he would ask such a question.

Only after a few seconds in which Batman looked from the faces of one member to the next, puzzled by the expressions of gentle amusement each and every one of them wore, did it finally register that all of them were looking at him.