"Today… the world witnessed a horrifying event," the news anchor began, her voice trembling despite years of practiced neutrality. "The villain known as the Joker launched an unprecedented attack on Gotham City. Blocks of infrastructure lie in ruins, millions of dollars in damage… but those numbers pale in comparison to the devastation he inflicted on human life. So far, 74,230 people have been confirmed dead. Another 749 remain missing. Injuries have surpassed 325,071 and emergency wards across the city are overflowing."
Her eyes lowered for a moment, as if she needed to physically wrestle the next words out.
"And today… we lost heroes. Real heroes. Members of the Justice League who gave their lives trying to stop him. Among the fallen are Captain Atom… Martian Manhunter… and Green Lantern."A painful silence clung to the studio when she said that name, as if the weight of Hal Jordan's legacy—now reduced to a severed head swinging from Joker's neck like a trophy—was too much for the room to bear.
"Many others are gravely injured as well. Flash… lost his leg during the confrontation. The city… will not forget this."
She straightened herself, pulling professionalism over her grief like a fragile mask."Joker was only finally stopped when the leader of Pantheon arrived on scene. Jason Anderson, alongside Raven, Wonder Woman and Harley Quinn, engaged Joker directly. The villain—after transforming his body into something resembling Doomsday—was killed in the ensuing fight. But the loss… the devastation…" Her voice cracked again. "The damage is unforgettable."
She turned toward her guest."Donald… your thoughts?"
The man swallowed before speaking. "First… my condolences to the families of the heroes we lost, and to every innocent life taken by this… monster. Captain Atom, Martian Manhunter, Green Lantern… we owe them everything. And to the thousands hurt or mourning tonight… I am deeply, deeply sorry."He drew a breath. "And to the heroes who helped stop Joker—especially Jason Anderson—thank you. Truly."
But before he could continue, the second guest cut in, leaning forward like a man who had waited years to finally say what he felt.
"No. Don't thank Jason," he snapped. "Acknowledge him. Because Jason was right from the start." He jabbed a finger at the table. "Had we followed his lead—had we eliminated these monsters instead of coddling them with moral philosophy—none of this would have happened. None. Of. It."
The first man slammed his hand on the desk."The Justice League did everything they could! Human rights still matter! You don't get to kill someone just because you deem them evil!"
"YES YOU DO!" the other barked back. "I trust Jason! The world trusts Jason! He has proven, again and again, that he is willing to do what the others are too righteous or too scared to do. He is a protector. He is the path forward. And we—" he thumped his chest "—we're the ones standing in the way of his righteousness by letting monsters like Joker live long enough to slaughter us!"
The studio devolved into chaotic shouting—analysts, experts, and hosts all talking over one another as grief mixed with anger and ideology into something volatile and ugly.
Batman watched silently.
Then he pressed the button and turned the television off.
The room fell into a suffocating quiet broken only by the soft hum of the Batcave's monitors.
"Master Wayne…" Alfred said gently. "You cannot blame yourself for this. This… tragedy was beyond even your foresight. How could anyone predict Joker would twist his flesh into a Doomsday abomination? How could anyone—any human—prepare for something like this? You aren't at fault. You were simply… not prepared."
Bruce didn't answer immediately. He stared down at his hands—steady, calloused, trembling just slightly."These hands…" he whispered. "Alfred… I am to blame. I spent years fearing one thing above all else—killing. I swore never to cross that line, never to become what they were. And I made it a rule… not just for me, but for everyone around me. Joker was always right there. Always within my reach. I could have stopped him. Ended him. Ended a thousand tragedies before they ever happened. But I refused. Again… and again… and again."His voice hollowed."So tell me. Why? Why did I refuse?"
"Master Wayne," Alfred said carefully, stepping closer, "what you stand for matters. Killing—even for the right reasons—can lead to killing for the wrong ones. One mistake… and an innocent pays the price. Your restraint is what kept you human. What kept you from becoming like them."
Bruce let out a bitter, humorless breath.
"Funny, Alfred… I think I know exactly what Jason would say to that."He looked at his hands again, but this time with a clarity that chilled the room."He'd say: 'I'd rather one innocent man die than a thousand.'"
Alfred froze.
Bruce rose from his chair with a heaviness that seemed to age him decades in a single motion.
"I'm done, Alfred," he said quietly, but with finality. "I'm retiring. This is it. Batman… will hang up the cape."
...
The doors of the Bialyan throne room didn't open — they exploded.Marble shattered, guards flew like dolls, and gunmetal rained across the floor in twisted chunks. Jason, still smeared with the dried blood of Gotham's aftermath, marched through the destruction like a walking executioner.
Every guard who dared lift a weapon died before their finger reached the trigger — bodies split open, armor crushed, necks snapped with casual, merciless precision. The room became an instant graveyard.
Queen Bee jolted upright from her throne, eyes glowing a desperate golden."WAIT! WAIT! WHAT ARE YOU DOING!?"
Her voice cracked, but she still tried to command him."STOP. STOP RIGHT THERE. DO NOT ATT—"
Her pupils shrank in horror.
Her powers… didn't work.
Not even a flicker of influence touched Jason.His rage drowned out her pheromone control like a bonfire devouring a spark.
Jason grabbed her by the neck and hurled her against the massive wall behind her throne with a slam that cracked stone and dented metal.
"Where is he?"
She gagged, clutching uselessly at his arm."W-Who!? I—I don't know who you want!"
He didn't even blink.He slammed her again, harder.
"Vandal Savage."His voice was calm — the terrifying kind of calm only monsters ever achieve."Where. Is. He?"
Queen Bee choked. "I—I don't know! Why would I know that!? This is—this is a political invasion! Are you out of your—"
Her sentence died in a spray of blood.
Her hand hit the floor with a wet slap.
"AAGGHHHHHHHHHHH!"Her scream echoed through the throne room, high, broken, animal."WHY!? WHY DID YOU—WHAT DID I DO!?"
Jason didn't flinch."The next one will be your head. Answer honestly."
"I DON'T KNOW ANYTHING!" she sobbed. "He escaped! He ran—he ran into space! That's all I know, please! PLEASE! Spare me!"Her voice dropped into a trembling, desperate purr, attempting seduction through the agony."You're a man, aren't you? Men always want me. I'll do anything. I'll be yours—your woman, your slave—please just don't kill me! I didn't choose this! Savage—Witch Boy—he forced my hand! I just want to rule my people in peace, please, PLEASE—"
Jason released her.
She collapsed, trembling, clutching the bloody stump where her hand used to be.
He pressed his boot onto the side of her head — not enough to crush it, but enough to remind her how easy it would be.
"You live," he said coldly, "solely because you're the ruler of a nation. I'm not starting a war today."He leaned forward, applying a bit more pressure, just enough to make her gasp."But listen carefully: if you ever do something I don't like… you die. If I hear even a rumor of you going back to your old games… you die."
He lifted his foot and walked away, leaving her sobbing on the floor, swimming in terror and blood.
Outside the palace, Diana was waiting, arms crossed, expression unreadable.
"I didn't expect you to spare her," she said softly.
Jason didn't look at her."I didn't."
She blinked. "What do you mean?"
"I'm hoping she does something stupid," he muttered. "Then I'll use her to find that bastard."
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