Mount Justice

The last thing I remembered was attacking the leader of the Complex. Everything else was a confusing blur. One surprising thing though, was the feeling of unease when I awoke from the darkness. At first I was cold, but then I took a breath in and my eyes snapped open.

I was in Mount Justice with my team surrounding me. I could see them from the corner of my eye as I lay crouched on the ground. They too were coughing and surprised at the sudden release back to normalcy.

I looked at my gloved hands and wiggled my fingers. Everything was appearing to be normal.

And then I heard a voice call M'gann's name. I moved my head toward the sound and saw J'onn kneeling down and embracing M'gann in a tight squeeze. He looked saddened and had a grave expression. He was whispering something to her that I couldn't make out as tears fell across his cheeks. I was confused to see such valid human feeling come across so plainly on his face.

But then I heard my name. It was a female voice.

"Nightwing." She repeated herself until I was finally able to regain focus and look up. And for some reason, I froze. I couldn't move. My body was stuck in a state of confusion and fear when I saw a woman with a hood standing feet in front of me.

Tempest? No. It couldn't be. This figure was too tall and fair. She also had Green Arrow with her. Green Arrow? Didn't he go missing? I knew I had to focus again. I knew that I couldn't let my guard down so I slowly stood up and stood tall.

I cleared my throat. "Who are you?"

The woman smiled. I could tell she was a trickster with her grin. She was evil. She had something to hide. She gently replied, "I am Madame Vestra and I was hoping to recruit your team."

"Tell me what happened."

"You were frozen. Don't you remember?" She laughed a little, "Oh no, I suppose you wouldn't. You see, Tempest froze you and I released you."

"Released us?" I felt the team gather behind me. They were just as curious about her as I was.

"Don't be so worried. I won't hurt you." She stretched out her arm. I could see red scars wrapping around it. A sense of familiarity itched the back of my mind. Batman had said something to me about those scars. What were they?

But before I could speak again Impulse retorted, "We obviously don't believe you."

Arrow interrupted him with his gruff tone. "There's no need for hostility. Everything will be fine."

Then without hesitation, M'gann walked up to the woman calling herself Vestra and extended her hand to shake Vestra's. Her voice matched her current timid demeanor.

"I believe you," she said to Vestra. Then she turned to us. "I don't sense anything. I think she can help us."

Vestra shook M'gann's hand and I immediately saw a change in M'gann's eyes. They had no feeling in them. They were glassy and still.

I knew that this wasn't the end of our fight.

******

The Hall of Justice

It was the time of year where the seasons were starting to change. The summer air that was once heavy and humid now was brisk and bitter. The leaves on the surrounding trees were turning a vibrant orange and a crimson red. The soft wind moved the city's fallen leaves into the air, rushing them away into a colorful sunrise.

The sun was slowly starting to illuminate the city streets as it began its steady ascent into the sky. Violet and pink hues decorated the skyline as the night became day. The slow turn of dawn made the city noise come alive as honks and train whistles pierced the air.

In the middle of all the sounds and sights stood the Hall of Justice. The rising sun cast a large, dark shadow over the front of the building and its steps. The fountain that was rebuilt in the courtyard was still flowing with water even though everything was growing cooler. The water's smooth surface gleamed and shimmered like crystals as the sun's rays gently reached the pool.

The Hall had been restored to an even grander appearance after the Jelapose attack. The stones that made up the walls were replaced with a gorgeous white marble that still had its new, glossy finish. The entrance to the Hall now had a large glass window that was outlined in gold that also had two revolving doors in the center. The ceiling of the Hall was now constructed as a large glass dome.

The inside of the Hall was just as decadent and regal. The revolving doors led to a large room filled with statues of all of the Justice League members. A red carpet even led to the museum of the League's history and battles. Though, even Alfred had to admit that Bruce went overboard in the new design, considering how much D.C. gets attacked.

The silence of all of the scenery was quickly interrupted by a howling wind and a thunderous marching on the Hall's floor.

The sudden commotion of noise was brought on by Vestra holding open a portal with soldiers spilling out. Each soldier was equipped with a gun and wore a black soldier's uniform. Though the front of the battalion was more heavily armored. In addition to the uniform, four dozen soldiers were equipped with an iron chest plate and wore belts of ammunition.

Vestra ran onto a higher platform by the League's statues in the Hall while maintaining her portal and shouted triumphantly at her men.

"Listen well my friends! The time has come for us to claim what is ours!"

The crowd of men and women cheered in agreement as more and more of them filled the space.

"Yes, there will be those who are frightened of what we will do, and yes, there will be those who will fight against us, but do not come at them with force! That is something we will never do!" Vestra pointed at one of the soldiers and made sure she peered into their eyes.

"The weapons we carry on our backs today are a symbol of peace and prosperity and not ones we will use to hurt those who do not have power. The Justice League had power and they used it in the wrong way! We are a force that will change the corrupt minds in this world without the use of weapons, but with the strength of those who stand with us!"

The crowd cheered again and the last of the soldiers came out of Vestra's white tunnel. The Hall was packed shoulder to shoulder with Vestra's army, some of the men were even pushed outside. Vestra held her hand out in front of the portal and made a strong, leading gesture.

"And who will help in this struggle for power?!" Vestra waved the remaining people from the opening. "The remnants of the Young Justice and the Justice League!"

The heroes walked out of Vestra's portal in a single file line, Bullseye taking the lead. Each hero stood tall and proud in front of the cheering audience, hands tucked behind their backs. All of the heroes' faces were emotionless and they looked forward with an emotionless gaze.

Vestra closed her portal and paced back and forth in front of her brigade.

"These brave people are the faces of the revolution and will help us achieve our goal!" Vestra stopped in front of Bullseye and asked him a question. "Will you help us change the world peacefully?"

Bullseye cleared his throat and smiled, stepping forward so the crowd could hear him.

"The world is being torn apart by people who think they can control everyone else by force and greed and manipulation. We need to change that ideal and view. I will follow your orders, Madame Vestra! And if I am the key to helping achieve a better society, then I will do anything for the cause!"

Vestra smiled and spoke again to her followers. "You see?! They too agree that the world is a place that needs to improve! So I ask you my friends, will you help me once and for all?!"

The mass of soldiers shouted in agreement and moved eagerly in their places. They all wanted to take action and start the revolution that Vestra had promised.

Vestra confidently stepped off of the ledge and landed in the middle of her army. She walked through the crowd and through the revolving door, the teams of heroes following tightly on her heels. She then gestured for her army to follow.

She walked to the top step that led down to the fountain area and then waved her wrist for a signal. Her army began to fill the courtyard, their excitement was evident. She dismissed the line of heroes beside her into the crowd, but kept Bullseye at her side.

She spoke in a loud tone again. "Do not act yet! We must wait for the authorities! And as soon as they show up, lead them to me."

The crowd relaxed and began to wait and talk amongst themselves.

Vestra lowered her voice so that only Bullseye could hear her. She looked at the dawn that was rising in the sky. She looked at all of the beauty it held; all of its potential for failure and growth. She cleared her throat and turned to face her loyal follower.

"Do you see what has happened here?"

"Yes, Madame. You have started something special."

"Yes and no," her voice was crisp. "I find it strange that so many groups over the years have failed to claim their dreams of what they wanted for the world. I find it hard to believe that we will be the last ones who will try to do this because so many other ambitious people will try to change the world to what they want. First there was The League of Assassins, then there was The Light, then there was The Reach, then The Jelapose, then The Complex of Heaven, and then there is us. We are just another group of dreamers who were smart enough to use another dreamer's plan to our own benefit."

"It's just a cycle."

"A never ending one. One that will always make mankind selfish and self serving and unworthy of power." Vestra raised her hands to her hood and took it off of her face. Her long blonde hair was messy and tangled. Her ugly scarred features were bulky in the light, but her one green eye had a violet tint. It still had the love and devotion it had fifteen years ago.

"And if I'm honest I'm selfish too," she looked to her followers, sighing, "because I wanted to get revenge on my dead husband Lyle Kane. However, I realize now that this is so much more than that. That this uprising is a never ending force of contending evil."

She stood still and turned her head toward the clouds to see the lavender hues that still covered the sky. "It's a cancerous and malignant growth that will never be contained."