Rating: PG Disclaimer: Not mine, DC's. Playing. Note: These are my feelings about the morning paper on March 18th, 2003, expressed in fic form.
Modern Warfare
by Beth
For all the closeness of the Bat clan, they all came together rarely
enough. Batgirl almost stepped back into the shadows when she saw not
only Nightwing and Robin, but also Alfred, Spoiler and even Azrael
gathered in the Batcave. But Oracle, preset through her tele-link,
had already spotted her.
"Hello, Cassandra." Barbara Gordon smiled sadly. "You heard the news?"
Batgirl nodded. "War bad," she volunteered.
Robin stirred restlessly, looking at CNN playing on the cave's
biggest screen. "Can't you do something, Babs? Send Black Canary and
have her sabotage their weapons or something..."
"I tried," Barbara explained. "Federal agents stopped Dinah before
she left Gotham."
CNN playing on the main screen flashed to a rerun of Gulf War footage
from more than a decade before. The defenders of Gotham watched bombs
fall and people die, over and over again...
"Eternal rest give unto them, O Lord. And let eternal light shine
upon them. May they rest in peace," Azrael whispered.
"Amen," Nightwing finished solemnly.
Batgirl sidled up to him. "Where Batman?"
"At the Watchtower, emergency JLA meeting," he explained. "The last
time I checked, they were waiting for Superman."
A beep echoed in the vast cave. "Incoming transmission from the JLA
Watchtower," Oracle announced.
Alfred faded into the shadows and the rest of the Bat clan made
themselves presentable as Batman's face filled the secondary screen.
In the background, they could see the other JLAers milling about
excitedly.
"Turn on CNN," Batman said.
Nightwing nodded. "We've been watching it for the past hour."
"Watch closely. Kal says this will be interesting."
Nightwing realized that the high-pitched sound he had been hearing
was Superman's giggle.
The graphic on the main screen changed to CNN Breaking News.
"This is a special bulletin from Kuwait," a reporter said. Behind him
a strange high-tech structure aimed at the sky. "Eleven minutes ago
this new addition to the US Army's arsenal was fired, encompassing
all of Iraq in its range. This apparently resulted in, um, turning
all weapons more advanced than a knife into, uh, generic bubble gum.
At about the same time all high-ranking Iraqi officers dropped
whatever they were doing and tied themselves into makeshift
straitjackets; those we have been able to reach claim they were under
mind control of some sort. Finally, Saddam Hussein's bank accounts
have been hacked and emptied at the same time."
He waved at a passing soldier. "Sir, can you comment on those
happenings."
"I can only say that we love the MBR."
"MBR? What does that stand for?"
"Mega Bubblegum Ray-"
The transmission was suddenly cut and replaced by a handmade sign
saying "CNN Even More Breaking News".
This reporter was even paler, and the figure next to her was
instantly recognizable.
"Hello," she began hesitantly. "I'm here in the Presidential Palace
in Baghdad, Iraq, with President Luthor - Mr President?"
Lex gave a blinding smile. "I promised the American people that the
war would be swift. It was. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have a
country to democratize."
He turned to a commotion off-camera as the newscast ended, going back
to the studio.
"Oracle!" everyone in the Cave and on the Moon hissed.
"Introducing feed from US Army security cameras," Barbara announced
as the slightly grainy image replaced CNN in the Batcave, on the
Moon, at Titans Tower, Happy Harbor and JSA Headquarters.
The greatest heroes of Earth watched as the president of the United
States of America leaned over Saddam Hussein, who was held in place
by Mercy Graves.
Lex Luthor smiled. "Which part of 'evil genius criminal mastermind'
didn't you understand?"
***
President Luthor's study was one of the best-defended rooms on the
planet. But he wasn't entirely surprised when a small black-clad
figure appeared before him.
"Thank you," she blurted out as she handed him something. "War bad."
After Batgirl had melted back into the shadows, Lex looked bemusedly
at the bunch of daisies in his hands.
{FINIS}
and may the gods have mercy on their souls.
Beth Winter
Warsaw, 18.03.2003