“193 known member countries,” muttered the Doctor. “Each with one delegate. How did Luthor get them?!”
“We’ll figure that out as we go,” said Martian Manhunter. “For now, we must rescue them.”
“Global surveillance,” reported Batman, “says that they’ve been kidnapped and are being held according to each group of the General Assembly. Cheetah has the Group of African States somewhere in Nigeria, Sinestro has the Group of Asia Pacific States in Japan, the Joker is holding the Group of Eastern European States in Poland, Gorilla Grodd has the Group of Latin American and Caribbean States imprisoned in Haiti, and D’kay D’Razz is holding the Group of Western European and Other States in Ontario, Canada.”
“We’ll have to split up,” muttered the Flash.
“Agreed,” said Superman. “But how do we get-?”
“My TARDIS can pick them up and drop them all off back and UN Headquarters,” replied the Doctor.
“That box? How?” asked Green Lantern.
“It’s bigger on the inside,” replied Batman. “And it travels through time.”
“No way!” scoffed the Flash.
“The Time Lords WERE famous for dimensional engineering, according to the archives,” said Superman. “Anyways, Amy, we still have your Wonder Woman outfit available if you want to join me in interrogating Luthor.”
“Sounds fun!” replied Amy.
“The rest of the team assignments seem pretty straight forward to me. Wonder Woman, you’re heading to Nigeria.”
“Got it,” replied Wonder Woman.
“Batman, you’ll be heading to Poland.” Batman nodded. “Green Lantern, you head to Japan.”
“Understood,” answered Green Lantern.
“Flash, you’re going to Haiti.”
“Check,” said the Flash.
“Martian Manhunter-.”
“I’ll depart for Ontario,” said Martian Manhunter.
“Doctor, here,” said Superman as he handed the Doctor a communicator. “You and Lurra Rus keep an ear out for anyone that needs a pickup, then get the delegates back to UN Headquarters.”
“You got it,” replied the Doctor.
“Amy, let’s get you suited up,” continued Superman. “We’ll be heading to LexCorp, where Lex’s demands were broadcasted.”
“All right!” cheered Amy.
“Friends, we face a dire threat!” said Superman. “But as long as we hold to the ideals of the Justice League, we can-!”
“Clark, with all due respect,” grumbled Wonder Woman as everyone got up for their assignments, “save the speech for later!” Everyone rushed out, leaving Superman and Amy.
“…But…we always let bad guys finish their speeches! That’s just good manners!” protested Superman.
Wonder Woman arrived in Nigeria via her invisible jet and spotted a crowd. “That must be where Cheetah’s holding her hostages,” she guessed. And she guessed right. Once she landed her jet, she flew above the crowd and spotted Cheetah with the 54 delegates that made up the Group of African States. “Barbara!” called Wonder Woman. Cheetah looked up.
“Wonder Woman, please! Do not interfere!” she called.
“Barbara, this isn’t going to help!” urged Wonder Woman, hoping to end this before she had to throw a punch. “I don’t know what the Goddess is telling you, but killing those people will NOT restore your human form!”
“This isn’t a command from the Goddess! It’s from someone else! I have no choice!”
“From Luthor? He’s not the best example of the world of Men.”
“No! It’s…It’s…!” Cheetah clearly tried to say it, but couldn’t.
“…Someone with more power than Luthor,” guessed Wonder Woman. “Barbara, you are a brilliant woman! You know what you’re doing is wrong! Resist! Resist that being!”
“I…I cannot…disobey…my master!” strained Cheetah. She then leapt at Wonder Woman, her claws and teeth bared. Wonder Woman raised her arms so that Cheetah bit on Wonder Woman’s bracelet, then Wonder Woman decked Cheetah with enough force and restraint to simply knock her out. The Amazon Princess then freed the delegates and called the Doctor.
“Doctor, this is Wonder Woman. Cheetah has been dealt with and the delegates are free. Cheetah HAS mentioned someone above Luthor. I don’t think he’s pulling the strings here.”
In Japan, Green Lantern scanned the area for any signs of fear. “Alert!” warned his ring. “Evidence of the Yellow Impurity detected!”
“Ring, take me there!” ordered Green Lantern. He flew to Kyoto and found a distinct yellow glow. He found Sinestro using his yellow ring construct to bind his 55 hostages in snake coils!
“Typical of you Justice League fools,” scoffed Sinestro.
“Hey, it’s in a Green Lantern’s job description!” replied Green Lantern. “Remember? Green Lantern? No evil shall escape my sight?”
“The Sinestro Corps are hardly evil, just ask my ally.”
“Kidnapping politicians is pretty evil if you ask me! And Luthor’s a known criminal according to all Earth laws!”
“I refer to the one pulling his strings,” replied Sinestro.
“Wait, this ISN’T Luthor’s plan? Then who-?” Green Lantern didn’t get his answer as a wicked-looking spider made of yellow light flew at him. Green Lantern used his ring to make a giant can of bug spray and sprayed the spider with it. The spider vanished against Sinestro’s will. “I’m not arachnophobic,” scoffed Green Lantern. He then created a jet with his ring and fired on Sinestro, knocking him out of the sky and making him lose consciousness. The snake then vanished, releasing the hostages. “Doctor, this is Green Lantern. Requesting pickup. Mission accomplished. And Sinestro revealed that there’s someone pulling Lex’s strings.”
Batman flew his Batplane over Poland, looking for the Joker. Just then, a call came through. The ID said it was Penny One. Batman accepted. “Go ahead, Alfred,” he said.
“Master Bruce, Sir,” replied Alfred, “surveillance cameras loaned graciously by the Justice League has detected a rather gaudy carnival in the northern outskirts of Elblag, just shy of its border with Russia. Sending you the coordinates now.”
“Thanks, Alfred. I’ll wrap this up as quickly as possible.”
“And after this affair is over, I’ll have your usual evening meal ready. Roast chicken, salad, water, bandages, the usual.”
“Very funny, Alfred. Batman out.” Batman ended the call and guided the Batplane to the coordinates. “Gaudy” was perhaps an understatement from Alfred. “Horrifying” would be a more accurate description of that carnival. Under the giant strongman machine were 23 people.
“ROLL UP! ROLL UP! COME ONE, COME ALL!” came a familiar lunatic’s voice. Batman jumped out of the Batplane and landed safely on the ground. “AHA! And our guest of honor is here! All the way in Poland! Tell me, Batsy, have you tried the local cuisine? The eclectic varieties would suit your tastes! I know they suit mine!” The Joker then jumped down from the strongman machine.
“Let them go, Joker!” hissed Batman.
“Aw! Don’t want to play? Come now, Batsy! All work and no play make Joker a sad clown!”
“Working for Luthor makes you sad in the first place.”
“Believe it or not, he’s just a puppet!”
“Then who’s controlling his strings?” asked Batman. “And yours?”
“Oh, I’ve got no strings to hold ME down, Bats! As for Luthor’s master, well, I ain’t singing!” The Joker then sprayed acid from his boutonniere. Batman leapt out of the way, then threw a batarang at the Joker. The Joker used his cane to knock the batarang off target. He then drew his gun and fired, but all he hit was a popcorn stand. “Oh, NOW look what you’ve done!” complained the Joker. “How are my carny friends supposed to enjoy the place now?!”
“They’ll move on, especially without someone so dull in charge.”
“DULL?! I’M THE STAR OF THE SHOW!” By now, the Joker was gnashing his teeth! He fired wildly, thankfully as Batman wanted. He then threw another batarang that cut the ropes holding the hostages. The hostages then grabbed whatever they could get their hands on and whacked the Joker senseless. “…C…Communists!” coughed the Joker once they finished. Batman called the Doctor.
“Doctor, hostages are safe,” he said. “Requesting pickup. And the Joker just said-.”
“That someone’s pulling Luthor’s strings?” asked the Doctor over the line. “I heard the same from Wonder Woman and Green Lantern. Any clues?”
“None that I could get,” replied Batman.
Over in Metropolis, Superman and Amy in her Wonder Woman dress landed on the balcony of the LexCorp building. Superman politely knocked. Lex Luthor looked behind him and saw the two. He let them in. “I thought you’d crash through the window,” he remarked.
“I’d rather not pay for a window,” replied Superman.
“I heard three groups have been rescued,” remarked Luthor.
“Groups that YOU kidnapped,” reminded Amy. “But something your allies said made me and Superman wonder.”
“Cheetah was clearly under some form of mind control,” explained Superman, “but Sinestro and the Joker weren’t. All three of them said that someone is pulling your strings, Luthor.”
“Loose lips sink ships, Superman,” grumbled Luthor. “But they ARE correct.”
“So, someone’s controlling you. But who?” asked Superman.
“Their control over me prevents me from saying,” replied Luthor. “All I can tell you is that they’re one of the two major party candidates currently running for President of the United States.”
“…You guys really DO have a two-party system?” muttered Amy. “Mobius doesn’t have that in my time.”
“Luthor, are you saying either Senator Sam Terrance or Senator Emily Percival are pulling your strings?” asked Superman.
“That’s exactly what I’m saying, Superman. Do you really think I would risk my business so easily by starting an international incident?! I’d be tried at the Hague and executed for this level of terrorism!”