Titans of Justice East Chapter 11 - "Justifications"
Written by: JLU51306
Edited by: Power Guy




This world is filled with everything immoral about humanity. Some of it happens in broad daylight, other parts of this outrage occurs in the darkened shadows. It angers me, it saddens me, it disturbs me, and it alarms me.

Just recently Gotham P.D. have found a missing person. This person was found dead. Washed up on the shores of Gotham bay. The way this man died was nothing short of methodical. No fingerprints from the killer was found, nothing to bring the forensics team to any leads. One clean shot in the head. It was a point-blank shot, as there were black marks on the forehead from the bullet ejecting the gun, leaving gun-powder residues, and burn marks. This man was identified as Willburn Stavely. He was running for govenor of the state that Keystone city resides in. He was an independent party candidate, and he wasn't even coming close to becoming Governor with several other independent candidates ahead of him. Ruling out one of his opponents voters killing him, since he wasn't close enough to even be considered as a hopeful. A random killing maybe? But it would seem that somebody going to that precise of a killing would have some sort of agenda against Mr. Willburn.

***
5 days later

The Gotham P.D. now found another dead body. It was located in the Gotham park, under some brush. The body was identified as Robert Corbon, the adviser to Willburn Stavely. Same way of death, point-blank gunshot to head. No other way of identifying who did it. Although this time, it appears there was some sort of struggle, his tie was heavily loosened, and the top button of his white button up shirt underneath his suit had been ripped off in the struggle.

Obviously these two knew something they shouldn't have. Maybe not a disgruntled opposing voter, but the opposing candidate himself? Or a hitman hired by the opposing candidate. Did they dig up some dirt that either Stephen Sattler (R) or Gene Rayman (D) didn't want spread around.

We have one good way of identifying suspects:

1). Motive

I will investigate both candidates soon.

***
2 days later

I put on my Marine corps uniform, armed with a Desert Eagle, and my Colt Dragoon Revolver, which has been passed down to me from several generations. In the marines, I learned many useful tactics, such as stealth, defense, and of course, offense. Every skill has it's purpose, as it's never better learned than first-hand.

***

Keystone

Stephen Sattlers hotel room. Second floor, Room 39. He has the room to himself, his adviser, and other campaign team are all in seperate rooms.

I go up to the main lobby counter, seeing as no one is even there at the moment, I quickly slip behind it, and grab a key to room #39, and quickly return to the lobby in time to have the clerk back to the counter, and ask if I need any help.

"No." is always my answer.

I take the stairs up to the second floor, bypassing the elevator which has a secruity camera inside. I reach his room and enter it. He is startled out of bed.

He nervously askes "Who's there?!". I say nothing. His eyes are still use to the darkness, so I know the light of the hallway shining in, blackens out me face, making me just a silhoutte.

I walk up to him, and roughly shove him onto his bed.

I ask in a darkened voice "What do you know about Willburn Stavely?".

He replies with "I don't know anything! Who is he?!". I since the sincerety in his fearful voice. He doesn't even know the guy, or that he even died. Not surprising, not too many people did. I leave as abruptly as I entered.

My agenda now includes going to the hotel Gene Rayman is staying at, also in Keystone. Both major party candidates have been busy campaigning, so they are both in hotels tonight.

I head over to Gene Rayman's Hotal right after leaving Stephen Sattler. One of them has to know something.

My source tells me he is staying at the Windorf Hotel. 7th floor. Room #227. I was informed that this hotel also didn't have secruity camera's in their stairwell. I was misinformed. I peak in to check before I show my face to the camera's. I sneak back out of the door, and turn the corner to a maids supplies cart, where I remove her coat that she has placed there. I put it on over my uniform, and head up to 7th floor in the stairwell. I remove the coat as I reach room #227. A frilly coat isn't very intimidating. The secruity in this place is nearly over-done, but of course I would think that. The door is a basic "key-card" entry, easily bypassed. I grab my pocket knife, and pop off the outer casing to the card entry, revealling three colored wires, along with various other technology. The three cords are connected to a black adapter like outlet, which can verify that a card has been slid into it, and determine whether or not it's the right card. All I do is unplug the black adapter, and the door is unlocked. I quitely open the door, slipping into the room. I am unnerved to find two beds, yet both are empty, but have had someone sleeping in them. Suddenly, I am startled by the cold metal of the barrel of a hand gun, directed at my left temple. The smell of gun-power is evident. The man holding the gun is obviously is part of of Gene Raymans secruity staff. I was once again, misinformed from my source.

The Secruity guard says to me, "I told you, it was room #225, across from me!". I am baffled by this comment. I cannot rationlize it. I simply don't reply back. He blares out to me, in a quiet tone, "Hey! Did you hear me?!". Once again, I remain silent. Not my greatest decision. He tells me he's going to kill me where I stand. He whips the end of his pistol across my face, knocking me down. I look up to see him reaching for a silencer in his brief case. I rush him, grabbing the gun from his hand, trying desperately to keep him from not making it go off, waking up everybody on the floor. I thrust my elbow into his ribs. The pressure knocks the wind out of him. I then throw my arm up under his with the gun, making it go flying from his hand under the bed next to his. While this is happening, I can only wonder where the second secruity guard is. I wrap the guards arm behind him, far enough to almost pull his arm out of socket. I quickly cover his mouth with my arm, keeping him from yelling in pain. I loosen his arm, and move my arm against his neck, chocking him. I squeeze my arm tight around his throat, as it slowly puts him to sleep. I toss him onto his bed, and quickly hide behind the corner, away from sight from the door, as the other guard walks in alarmed, I quickly throw my loosened fist into the inner side of his neck, closest to his throat, completely rendering him quiet for about 5 seconds. As he begins to fall to his knee's finally regaining the ability to breath, I grab him from behind, and choke him, to put him to sleep, but do it for about 20 seconds longer, so he will stay unconsious longer while I have a one-on-one with who I suspect has raised some plot to kill Gene Rayman. I grab his, and the other guards guns, and holster them under my uniform. I also search them and the room for any other weapons. Not long after I finish, the one guard begins to stir. I lift him up, and toss him into a seat next to the bed, and unholster my Desert Eagle. I press it hard against his sore ribs. This gives me his "undivided" attention.

I tell him, "I'm obviously not the man you told to kill Gene Rayman.".

He retorts back, "Obviosuly not!".

I ask him, "So you were trying to have Gene Rayman killed?".

He gives me a dirty look, and I can tell he is getting thoroughly upset. The narcisist in me is craving for him to be so bold as to try and disarm me of my gun, and aim it back at me. He tries, clinching his arm against his side. I atleast let him think he had the strength to remove it from my hand. He quickly jabs me across the chin, and aims my Desert Eagle at me. I look up at him smiling, and I chuckle. He pulls the trigger to hear it click. The sound of an empty gun. He pulls the trigger again, and again hoping it shoots. I grab his hand twisting it. I hear a crack, huh, I think I broke it. He screams, which is my cue for a hasty exit. In the hurry I am, I forget to pick the maids coat back up, so the camera's won't see my destinctive Marine Corps uniform. But, the past is the past, I can't change it. I rush down the stairwell, and quickly change paces as I reach the main lobby, so I won't look suspiscious. The greeter at the exit smiles at me on my way out. I head back to my apartment.

***

40 minutes later

I finally get to my apartment. I've got to process everything that happend tonight. Obviously, theres a conspiracy to kill Gene Rayman. Probably a connection to Willburn Stavely too. I get inside my apartment, and take off my uniform. I get in the shower.

There's two possibilities. Probable possibilities atleast.

1.) Stephen Sattler really was lying to me, and is behind the plots to kill his opponents.

or 2.) Stephen Sattler is the next target.

I get done with my shower, and get dressed, ready to call it a night. When I find a green arrow shot into the door way of my kitchen holding against the wall a note, reading; "We need to talk, Johnny."

Real classy, Dark Arrow.

***

The Next Day

I dressed in my Marine Corps Uniform, bringing my pistols with me. I ignored Dark Arrows invitation to a lecturing, and I've been in the crowd at Stephen Sattlers campaign speech. I'm keeping an eye on him. Something doesn't seem right. And just about then, shots ring out, rifle shots. I see a one of his guards jump infront of him. The crowd scream, and run rampant away from the podium. Two more shots are taken. I remain unmoved. Recounting the shots.

The First shot: Clipped the right edge of the podium, sending small fragments of wood outwards, and making it's final mark in the end of the stage.

The Second shot: By the time the first shot fired, a guard rushs up behind Stephen Sattler. The bullet seems to have hit the guard in his right side. The bullet most likely went through his rib cage, and right lung. Either the bullet clipped one of the ribs, causing it to break, and puncture the lung, or it hit the ribs, and the lung, puncturing it. He's going to need medical attention very soon.

The Third shot: Another shot missed. Appearing almost purposely shot about 7 feet away from Stephen, the guards, and the podium. Why? Why would someone do that? Maybe someone caught him, and it startled him, causing him to miss. Or is there more method to this madness than it seems?

The three bullet trajectories seem to come from near 120 degree angle. Meaning it was shot from a building, close to the 5th or 6th floor. The shots were angled to have come from the south-east. The Elaina Apartment buildings are in the East, so the building next to it is in the south-east; The Southcrest medical Hospital?

I start running towards the hospital, on my way I make sure I get one of the guards attention, "Hey! The guy that got shot, he's got a punctured lung! He needs a doctor immediately!".

He replies, "There's an ambulance on the way from the hospital.".

I ask, "Can I hitch a ride?".

I know he's going to let me just because of my uniform, "If you want, you obviously know when somebodies got a punctured lung.".

The Ambulance arrives about a minute or so later, I get in the back, with an ulterior agenda.

"He's going to drown on his own blood, your going to need to pump it out immediately." I explain.

"What?" the EMT asks me.

"He's got a punctured lung.", I told him.

He says back, "But it looks like the entry would aligns with this exit wound, making it just a flesh wound.".

"The exit would is too small for a rifle shot. Thats just a fragment of the bullet the was ejected from hitting one of the ribs. Meaning the rest of the bullet is still inside him.", I replied.

The EMT radio's to the hospital, "We going to need a blood drainer and a surgeon!".

The Ambulance rushs to the entrance of the hospital. The doors pop open, and he's rushed inside. I follow. I ask the nurse where the stairs are, seeing as how the elevator is full. I'm directed to a hallway that dead-ends, with a door to the stairwell. I run to the 5th floor in time to see guards rushing to room #109. I look from the lobby desk, which seems to be vacant of nurses or medical staff. The secruity guards find a middle aged man, out of his bed by a window, which has a circular hole cut into it, and a ACOG scoped rifle on the floor by the window. I see the guards lift up his chin to see purple brusing around his throat.

I hear them say, "Someone strangled him! He's dead." I know that is not brusing related to a strangulation, but brusing that comes being hung.

I pipe in from the lobby desk, "He was hung." By the time they look at me, I'm pointing above them, to see part of the ceiling pushed up, with a cord barely sticking it.

One of the secruity guards looks up while the other says cautiously, "Stay right there.".

I reply assuring him, "I'm not the guy that did this, I was in the crowd at Stephen Sattlers speech, and I noticed the bullets rang out from this floor of the hospital.".

The guard grabs his radio, "I need back up at the lobby of the 5th floor.". By the time back-up comes, the guy who did this would have already made it to his car in the parking garage, and out of the hospital.

The other guard calls the one with a taser drawn at me, saying, "Look at this!" He quickly turns to look as the other guard has the patients hospital garment pulled down to his upper chest, which reads in red marker "I did it.". When the guard looks away, I'm gone. I run around the corner, as the guards presume I've headed for the stairs. I hear them radio in that I was on foot going down to the floors below. I love deceiving people.

I know the assassin is most likely going to be part of the medical staff, or is dressed to look like it. Since a normal person doesn't just come out of a room that had gun shots in it, that is carrying a bag that contains a glass cutter. So I'm looking for someone suspiscious dressed in medically issued blue shirt and pants, carrying a bag. He is most likely going to the parking garage. I rush to the stairwell, making sure it's clear of secruity guards for the moment. I jump from the 5th level of stairs, to the 3rd, and then to the ground floor. I rush for the parking garage. To see a man, fitting my suspects description.

I jump him, drawing my Desert Eagle, and he quivers with fear, emptying his pockets, exclaiming, "Take it all." He drops the medical bag. I look in it, to find no glass cutter in it.

I tell the man, "Sorry! My mistake!". He looks utterly confused, I re-enter the hospital, as he hurriedly leaves in his car out of the hospitals parking garage.

Knowing I've missed my window to catch the attempted assassin, I go back to the first floor, where the surgical rooms are. Wanting to check up on that guard that was shot. I see the guard on a medical bed being rushed to the surgical rooms.

I ask the nurse, "Why is he just now being taken to surgery?!".

She replies, "Pardon?".

"I watched that guard enter the hospital 10 minutes ago, why is he just now going to surgery?!" I asked.

She replies, "The doctors just got done removing the blood from his lungs, he's now ready...", she pauses, with nervous eyes, most likely because secruity has warned her about me. I watch the Surgeon walk by, setting a bag down behind the nurses counter.

The phone rings, and the nurse says, "Can you give me a second?", she lifts up the phone. It's secruity. I quickly grab the surgeons bag, who has since entered the surgery rooms, and non-chalantly begin to walk out the entrance of the hospital. She says, "Hey! Sir!... Sir!", trying to get my attention to stay in the hospital. No thanks. I turn the corner, and head out around the side of the hospital, watching three cops cars pull up, as they rush in to arrest me.

I run to the Elaina Apartment Building, and run around the back of it. I open the bag, finding, to my amazement, a glass cutting device. Which would explain how he could have walked into the patients room on the 5th floor with out alarm. Probably adding something to his I.V. to make him unconsious, as he hangs him, and proceeds cut a hole in the window and shoot out of it. My understanding of what happened widens as all the pieces start to come together. Not many random people can shoot a rifle with an ACOG scope over a 300 yard distant from an elevated level, with just an ACOG scope. It would take someone with very steady hands. I run the possibilities in my head of what the surgeon will do to the dying guard.

1.) He slips something into his I.V. that kills him, or acts as if he is not an adequate enough surgeon to save him.

or 2.) He as the audacity to save the man he unintentually shot.

I'm going with #1, but there's nothing I can do. No way to prevent it. Who would believe me? No one.

I look at the position of the sun. It's 3:00pm. I'm gonna head home.

I get to my apartment. To see Dark Arrow inside when I open my door. I act as if I don't notice him.



He asks me, rhetorically, "You read text books full of medical mysteries and the art of being a human lie detector test?".

I reply, "You don't?".

He scoffs at the question, "No.".

I tell him, "Well, now thats why I know how someone is dying or how someone died, and when someone is lying, just by first glance, and you can't/i].".

Dark Arrow retorts back, "Touche. But questioning your reading material isn't why I'm here--".

I interject sarcastically, "Really?".

"--Alright, lets cut the bull-sh*t! What were you doing at Gene Raymans hotel, or more specifically, his guards' room's?".

"Humoring my suspicions, is what I was doing." I told.

"What?", he asks.

I spill him the short story, "Willburn Stavely was found dead a few days ago. He was a indepent candidate for governor. His adviser was found dead the day after his murder. I suspected that one of the big party candidates had something to do with it. Stephen Sattler seems clean. So I went to check up on Gene Rayman, but my source gave me some false intel, and I went into the wrong hotel room. Unfortunately, his guards rooms--".

Dark Arrow interrupts, "Who's your source?".

I say, "A bumbling idiot. Anyway. Long story short. I uncovered (By unconventional means) a plot, set up by Gene Raymans security staff, to have him killed. And today, I watch the attempted assassination of Stephen Sattler, where a surgeon at a hospital was the shooter... I can tell that that is news to you."

I reach for the remote to my TV, and change it to the news. Dark Arrow and I both watch.

"Gene Rayman, Democratic hopeful was found dead today, in his bed.. The cause of death is still unknown, an Autopsy is to be performed soon. His secruity staff commented that they are 100% positive that no foul play was involved. They did release his medical records, which show he had Sleep Apnea. Now we go to Loretta White, in Keystone."

"Today, also, an assassination attempt was made against the Republican hopeful. He was not shot, but one of his guards were. They have only one suspect. His description says that he was acting very suspicious in the hospital, and was wearing a Marine issued uniform."

Dark Arrow looks over at me. I respond, "Hey, I was there trying to find the shooter.".

"I believe you, but you let the shooter get away?" he tells me.

"It's so easy to lay blame. It was a surgeon, the same surgeon that is saving the life of the guard he shot... or not saving." I explained.

Dark Arrow asks me with arrogance in his tone, "Why didn't you stop him?!".

"It's not that simple, I can't just accuse a surgeon of attempted assassination, when I myself have a warrant out for my arrest. The police would have detained me for questioning, because the cops think I did it!" I exclaimed.

"Gene Rayman is already dead because of your inaction!" Dark Arrow blames.

Huntress and Sonic Boom walk up from around the corner. I exclaim, "Did you bring the entire Titans of Justice with you?!".



Huntress says to Dark Arrow, "Quit blaming him! It's not like you would've done any different.".

"I would have!" Dark Arrow retorts.



Sonic Boom replies to Dark Arrow sarcastically, "Sure.".

I tell all three of them, "Can you all just get out of my apartment?".

Huntress says to me, "I am volunteering the three of us to help you. Because your obviously gonna need it.".

I reply, "No, I'm not. I work best alone.".

Sonic Boom interjects, "Thats apparent. Look, quit putting on this scowly facade, trying to act like Batman or Knightvision, and let us help you!", I give her a stare, telling her with my eyes, that what she said is ridiculous. She may have misinterpreted that.

She responds, "Hey! I'm sorry, thats not what I meant.".

I try and assure her, "I know... Look, I don't need any help. Now will you all please leave." I analyze there reactions. Dark Arrow doesn't seem to want to help, more than likely pushed into it by Huntress, Sonic Boom is showing a dislike for me. And Huntress seems to sympathize with me.

Huntress leaves me the Hall of Justice number, and tells me, "Call us if you need us.".

I reply insincerely, "Yeah...". I'm once again by myself. I've got to see how far down the rabbit hole this conspiracy leads. Lets go over it so far:

1.) Willburn Stavely. Murdered. Most likely a hired gun. Independent Candidate.
2.) His adviser, Mr. Corbon. Murdered the same way. Probably by the same hired gun.
3.) Gene Rayman, Murdered. Either killed by his Secruity Staff, or his secruity staff's hired gun came after I left.
4.) Stephen Sattler had a surgeon (probably hired) try to kill him.

Somebody's got it out for any candidate for governor.

My to-do list:

1.) Contact the leading Independent Candidate.
2.) Wait for the surgeon to get off of work, and interrogate him.
3.) Personally contact my source

Ted Wyott, the leading Independent Candidate was way ahead of Willburn. And since Willburn, and Gene were in the running, but now not, his next target, is again Stephen.

Maybe the secruity staff of Gene Rayman is working for Ted? And the Surgeon.

12:00 am, the next day, rolls around, and I head over to the home of the Surgeon.

I easily picked the lock to his back door. He fortunately had no secruity system. He has been off of work for two hours. And he is just now getting home. He cuts the lights on, to see me standing in the middle of his living room. He is startled, and tries to go for his phone to call the police. I run up and twist his hand, causing him to drop the phone, poping the back of it off, making the batteries fall out. I kick the batteries up under his couch, and grab him by the collar of his shirt, and throw him into his couch.

He says fearfully, "Look, take all my money!".

I reply calmly, "That's not what I'm here for.".

"What do you want?!" he asks desperately.

"You were the shooter that tried to kill Stephen Sattler, you did the surgery of the guard you accidentally shot! What do you have against Sattler?" I asked forcibly.

"Who?" he respondes. I can tell he's lying.

"Your lying! Why were you trying to kill Stephen Sattler?!".

He tries to lie again, "I didn't! Honest!".

"Liar!", I yelled. I pull out my Desert Eagel, and point it at him. He becomes seriously nervous. "Last chance.".

He finally spills it, "Alright! I did try to kill him.".

"Why?!" I ask.

He answers, "I was black-mailed, I had to, otherwise they'd burn down my house!".

I retort, shocked, "So you have more concern for your things, than a man's life?!".

He replies, "I own some of the rarest antiques in the world! I had to!". I look at him in pure disgust. I pull out a tape recorder. and push the end button. I also get a clip out for my gun, and load it, and shoot a vase on his mantel. He yells in sorrow.

I say quietly, "It should have been you.". He runs to the pieces left of it. I ask him, "Who hired you?!".

"They'll kill me if I tell you!" he responded. I shoot another vase. He screams once again, and says, "It was Ted Wyott!!!".

I am startled to hear the Huntress behind me, "Thats all I needed to hear.".

I turn around, and ask, "Were you tracking me?".

She answers, "Yes. You were wrong, you do need, and still will need help.".

I question her, "How are you tracking me?".

She tells me, "The card with the phone number I gave you, had a very small, very thin, tracker placed on the back of it, so the fact that I was actually able to track you, proves you did think you would need help at some point. And never better than to have me as a witness. This man will be arrested, and the both of us will track down Ted Wyott.". Huntress hand-cuffs the surgeon, and places him in the back of her vehicle. She asks me, "You want a ride?".

I say sarcastically, "You must like me.".

"You wish!" she tells me.

As she walks over to the drivers side in front of me, and I look down at her... uh... "rear-end", as the wind blows her cape to the side. She is about to get in the drivers seat, and she looks back at me, and catches my eyes. She says to me, "I think you like me.".

"I'd be a liar if I said I didn't." was my reply. We both get in. She puts the "Batmobile" in gear, looks at me, and smirks, as she drives to the Hall of Justice.

We arrive not too long later.

I make it clear to her, I don't want anyone to know about this conspiracy other than her, Sonic Boom, and Dark Arrow. The circle needs to be small.

She drops the Surgeon off at the holding cells. And gets back in the Batmobile. She types in a search for Ted Wyott's residence on her, I don't what she calls it, I guess the "Bat-computer". It uploads to the GPS.

***
30 minutes later


"I'll let you worry about getting inside.", she says, as we arrive at his home.

I go to an open-able window at his house, pop out the screen, and pull out my knife.

She asks a good question, "Why isn't he staying at a hotel, from campaigning, like the rest?".

I answer with a smirk, "He's an independent candidate, remember?".

I take the knife, and place it inbetween the middle part of the window, that overlaps at the lock. I slide it back and forth, until it unlocks. I open the window, and we both slip in. She goes to check up stairs, while I follow a hallway past the living room. I find him asleep on his couch. I pull out my desert eagle, which seems to be a truth-seeker. I look closer at the corners of his mouth and see white foam.

The Huntress is walking up behind me. She whispers behind me, "Put the gun away!".

I tell her in a normal toned voice, "He's dead.". She asks how, I respond telling it her it's because of Cyanide.

"How can you tell?", she asks.

"Foaming of the mouth, y'know, like in the movies.", I tell her. "Someone might have forced him to kill himself by black-mailing him with his families life.", I continued. We leave the same way we came, covering our tracks on the way out.

She takes us to my apartment.

I ask why we're going there, and she tells me, "I'm sure you have some other leads we can follow, and you can tell me more about what you know.".

We arrive, and go inside. She says to me, "Wow, it's very neat.".

"I'm a marine." I said.

She asks curiously, "How far does this conspiracy go, to Waller or the President, maybe?".

I reply trying to give her an answer, "I'm not sure, but it's pretty high up...", I continue, "Do you want something to eat, I've got some left-over chinese if you want?".

She smiles, "No, I'm good, I can't eat at 3:00 in the morning, thanks though!".

I decided, "Hey, I'm gonna get a shower real quick, just make yourself comfortable.".

"Alright.", she respondes.

I go get a fresh change of clothes from my room, and head for the bathroom. I get out a few minutes later, to see her looking through my book collection.

She asks inquisitively, "So is that why you can tell when someone is lying?", as she holds up my text book with a title reading "How to be a human lie detector".

I answer, "Learning is our best skill.".

"I guess it is." she said.

I hang my Marine Corps uniform on a hangar in my closet.

As I walk back into the living room, she asks unsure, "Do you care if I crash here tonight?".

I respond assuringly, "No, not at all.".

She decides, "I'll just sleep on your couch.".

"Oh, no! You can have my bed, I'll sleep on the fold out bed on the couch." I offered.

"Are you sure?" she asks.

"Yeah, I usually sleep on the fold-out most of the time, anyway." I affirmed.

"Thanks!... And, could I, uhh, borrow some clothes to sleep in? This costume isn't exactly comfortable overnight." she asks politely.

"Sure." I respond. I head to my dresser and grab out a white T-shirt, and some basic pajama pants.

I hand them to her, and say, "You can change in the bedroom.".

"Alright, thanks." she answers. She comes out, in the T-shirt and pants, and says sarcastically, "Sexy, huh?".

I reply, being sarcastic "Oh, yeah! Much more fitting than your costume!".

"Oh, shut up!... Good night." she replies humorously.

"Night." I reply. I make out the couch-bed, putting a sheet and blanket on it. I fall asleep not long after laying down.

I wake up at 6:00 am, and get dressed in my Marine Corps uniform. Huntress starts to wake up as I holster both of my guns. I greet her, "Good morning.".

She asks me, delirious, "How are you up? We've only been asleep for like 2 hours.", as I'm about to reply, she says it for me, "Your a Marine, I know.". She gets up, and heads to my bathroom to change into her costume. She asks me, "Where are we going?".

"I need to have a talk with my source." is my reply.

She inquires, "Who's that?".

"He works for the Daily Planet, but he gets alot of scoops from all the other cities. I've known him for years.", I answered.

We both head to her Batmobile. Isn't very inconspicuous in the parking lot of an apartment complex, but it atleast didn't have any damage done to it. She makes the comment, "I look awful without a fresh coat of make-up!".

I try and assure her otherwise, "I couldn't disagree more.".

She respondes, "Aww, thank you, your sweet.".

"I've been called many things, but "sweet" isn't one of em'... I don't even know your name." I stated.

"Well you know superheroes usually keep that secret!", she laughs, and continues, "My name is Helena... You know, you've been on the scene for a while, whats your superhero name?".

I reply, "I don't have one.".

She continues, "Aww, c'mon, what do the people call you?".

"The papers call me "Johnny Hex", after my ancestor." I reveal.

She starts to laugh softly, I ask her why, and she says, "Your the only Superhero I've ever heard of to be known as their real name!".

I respond, "Hey, do you see a big "S" on my chest, or anything distinctive to call me by?".

She pauses for a moment, "No, {laughs}, what about Marine Man?".

"And thats why they call me Johnny Hex." I replied sarcastically.

I tell Hun-- Helena to drive to a drug store where I told my source to meet me at. I tell her to wait in the Batmobile.

"Hey Wally." I greeted.

He respondes amazed, "Is Batman in that thing?".

I say, "It doesn't matter. You gave me some false intel on what room Gene Rayman was staying in.".

"Hey, I'm sorry, I can't be right 100% of the time, is that all you want, is to tell me I was wrong?" he says.

I tell him, "No. I wanted to know if you had any info on a government conspiracy to kill the candidates running for governor?".

"No clue." he respondes.

I ask suspiciously, "You wouldn't be lying to me would you?". "Look, there is something big going down. All I know is that it's going as high up as The Presidents Military General.", he says nervously.

I try to digg deeper, "Is Waller or the President involved?".

"I don't know," he replied.

I get back in the Batmobile. Huntress asks me what he said, I tell her, and she doesn't seem surprised. She takes us back to the Hall of Justice to do more research on the Military General in Wallers cabinet.

About the time we pull out of the drug store parking lot, Dark Arrow beeps in on Huntress' communicator, "Where have you been?!" he asks.

She respondes, "Me and Johnny have been following up some leads.".

"Well you haven't checked in since Midnight, you know better." Dark Arrow explained.

Huntress assirts herself, "Don't lecture me, Dark Arrow... We're hearded to the Hall now. Huntress out."

I ask her, "Why do we need to do research at the Hall?".

"Because our computer will know everything about that general, it can tell us the last time he sneezed if we wanted it to.", she tells me.

***

Not long after Dark Arrows flex's his Boss-complex, we arrive at the Hall. I am greeted by several heroes. Some I've never even heard of. Huntress promised that what ever we find stays between the four of us. One the way to the computer room, Huntress calls the attention of Sonic Boom. Dark Arrow was already on our trail since we got there. I feel that kid needs an "self-check".

I have learned through a live news feed at the Hall, that Stephen Sattler was found dead, in his hotel room, on the bathroom floor. He was murdered too. We have to find out if the General is involved.

We enter the computer room. I see something riminiscent of predictions of the future of technology. She types in the Generals name. And she was right, it found every little thing about him. It's even smart enough to discern connections and coincidences. The military generals' name is Charles Wittfeldt. Born April 7th, 1968. He's half Irish, half German. Joined the Marines, finished 4th in his class. Moved his way up to a General in 2016, and was appointed as Wallers Military General when she took office, and stayed so with the current President. Records clean. The Computer picks up personality traits of Mr. Wittfeldt. He has an overbearing attitude, very pro-war, see's everything black and white. He's controlling, manipulative, paranoid and doesn't like to take blame, but can sure lay it. Huntress searches the other Generals and military officials that could be involved. The Computer doesn't see any connection to the other generals about the conspiracy. But it's pulling up all kinds of red flags on Charles Wittfeldt. She types in Amanda Waller, along with the President, but nothing comes up on them that could trace them to the murders.

Sonic Boom curiously asks, "What are we going to do?".

I answer her, "If this computers right, than something has to be done about Mr. Wittfeldt.".

Dark Arrow pipes in, "Could Waller be involved.".

Huntress answers for me, "Possibly, but lets not make any assumptions at this poin--".

Dark Arrow interrupts, "You know she's got something to do with it!".

"That may be, but it's not like we can walk into her office, and put the secretary of Meta Human Affairs in hand-cuffs. Before we do anything, we need to get what we know out of Mr. Wittfeldt, and if he spills anything about Waller, we'll deal with that when we're at that point.", I explained.

Sonic Boom grabs the Huntress' attention, and pulls her into the other room. While Dark Arrow bumps me out of the way of the computer to search connections to Waller.

I over hear Sonic Boom and Huntress' coversation, "Helena, your totally crushing on him!".

"I'm not!" Huntress replies.

Sonic Boom asks, "Where were you last night?".

"With him, but it's not what your thinking, we were following leads." she explains.

"Did you sleep last night?", the legacy of Black Canary asks.

"Are you asking what I think your asking?!" said Huntress, appualled by the question.

"Hey, I didn't ask that, I'm just asking if you slept last night, your make-up looks kinda smeared." states Sonic Boom.

"Yes, I slept for a few hours.".

"Where?" Sonic Boom inquires.

"... At his apartment." hesitates Huntress.

"How was it?" Sonic Boom softly asks.

"I didn't sleep with him!... I didn't even sleep in the same room!" says Huntress.

"... Well are you gonna--".

Sonic Boom is interrupted by Huntress, "Di Di!".

Sonic Boom continues, "Sor-ry...".

Huntress heads back into the Computer room, with Di Di following behind.

Huntress wonders, "So, whats the plan?".

I explain, "We need to find out where the General will be, look for a good, open location to grab him real quick, question him, and drop him back right where he was before anyone notices' he's gone.".

"But how will we get him to talk?", asks Sonic Boom.

I answer her indirectly, "I'll worry about that.".

Dark Arrow interjects, "Your acting as if you've already got something in mind.".

"I do, in fact. President Waller is having her state of the union soon, and her entire cabinet will be present, which includes Charles Wittfeldt." I explained.

Huntress asks, "How will we get him out of the U.S. Captiol building?".

Dark Arrow buds in, "Are you seriously discussing kidnapping a General? We would be charged with treason! And not to mention tarnish the ToJ even more in everyone eyes, and the Nations eyes!".

"Will you shut up! And be quiet!" I yelled, I continued, "This has to be kept between the four of us, and your yelling it throughout the Hall! We're lucky that the two people on this team who have super-hearing are rescuing people from that Earth-Quake... Now the State of the Union is in 3 days. So we have some time to work out any possible scenarios for complications with the plan.".

"... I think I have a way of getting to him. We won't be able to snatch him before the State of the Union, but what about after it? He will more than likely be driven home, and dropped off at his home. Unfortunately, he will have a secruity alarm at his house. And probably some guns he wouldn't mind using. But if we find out what vehicle he will be dropped off, and picked up in, we can have one of us distract his driver, while another one us disguises' ourselves as his driver, and we get the information out of him that we need." said Dark Arrow.

Has to be the smartest thing he's said all day. "We can probably drive him to a deserted place, and I administer him some truth serum. But until the state of the union, we wait." I stated.

"Well, on that note, I say we grab something to eat." proclaimed Huntress, she continued to say, "And Johnny, why don't you go meet the rest of the team.".

I answer, "I'd rather not.".

"I insist!", exclaimed Helena, walking me into the main room. "This is Powerstorm, and thats Goldbug." continued Huntress.

"Look, Helena." I said quietly, "I'd prefer to not to meet people." I continued.

"Why not? there just members of the team?" she asks.

"I'd just rather not meet new people." I explained.

"Okay... Just make yourself comfortable. I'm gonna go order pizza."

Sonic Boom walks out of the computer room, and into the main room, with me. "You like her don't you.", she says behind me.

"What?" I ask.

"It's obvious you like her." Sonic Boom explained.

"I'm not gonna lie..." I say quietly.

"She likes you too.", she comments.

"Your a bit blunt, Di Di." I remark, with no intended offense.

"Yeah, I call it like I see it, just like my br--", she stops, and continues with a soft tone "How do you know my...".

I begin to head back to the computer room, as she realizes the last time I could have heard her name.

"Dark Arrow, could you do a search on man by the name of "Robert Corbon"?", I asked.

"Sure." he replied.

He types it in. It comes up with the adviser to Willburn Stavely.

I tell Dark Arrow to search for Willburn Stavely, along with the other two big party candidates for governor, I also ask him to cross-reference the four of them, to find the things they have in common.

"Did you ever find out the people that killed Willburn Stavely and his adviser?" Dark Arrow inquires.

"No. They covered they're tracks in everyway. Probably a hired gun." I answered him.

"Who was hired by Ted Wyott?" he asks.

"Yeah. Probably something else Charles Wittfeldt forced Ted Wyott to do." I answered.

By this time, I noticed Sonic Boom heads to the kitchen with Huntress.

The results of the cross-reference finally come back. "I think we've found our motive!" exclaims Dark Arrow.



To Be Concluded!