Chapter 88: Meeting
The silence in the Justice League meeting room stretched on. Batman stood motionless at his position near the table, his cape draped around him, his expression hidden behind the cowl.
Wonder Woman was the first to break the silence.
"How?" she asked simply. "Bruce, you know me. We've worked together for years. How did you not recognize that it wasn't me?"
Batman's jaw tightened. For a moment, it seemed he wouldn't answer. Then, slowly, he spoke.
"My mental state." The words came out flat. "I'd just watched what I believed was Tim's death. I watched & blasted reanimated prisoners and other creatures. The Architect knew exactly what buttons to push, exactly how to break my focus."
He paused.
"I was emotionally compromised. Mentally worn down. When someone who looked and sounded exactly like you appeared, offering support, offering to help contain the situation... I didn't check the details the way I normally would have."
Wonder Woman's expression softened slightly. "Bruce—"
"There's more," Batman interrupted. "While disguised as Robin—the Architect fed me false information. He told me the Justice League was on the way. That backup would arrive within minutes."
He looked around the table, meeting each hero's eyes.
"That was part of the manipulation. Make me think I had support incoming, make me rush my decision and keep me off-balance."
He drew a breath.
"I made a mistake. A critical one. And Firefly paid the price for my failure."
"Firefly was a serial killer who burned children alive," Aquaman said bluntly. "I'm not shedding tears for him."
"That's not the point," Batman shot back.
"The point is that the Architect manipulated me into delivering a prisoner directly into his hands. Whether Firefly deserved death or not is irrelevant. I became complicit in an execution. I let myself be used as a tool for murder."
The silence returned.
The Flash was the first to speak, his usual levity notably absent. "Man, this Architect guy sounds like a real menace. I mean, we've fought shapeshifters before, but this..." He gestured vaguely. "This is different."
"Indeed," Martian Manhunter said quietly. "His intelligence is as dangerous as his powers. Perhaps more so."
Aquaman frowned. "How many others has he killed while we've been occupied elsewhere?"
"Too many," Batman said grimly. "Gotham's criminal population has been decimated. Not just the high-profile targets like Firefly. Street-level dealers, enforcers, serial villains, corrupt officials—anyone involved in organized crime is at risk."
Superman finally spoke. "The question is: how do we combat him? If he can become anyone this effectively, how do we even begin to track him down?"
The Flash leaned back in his chair, running a hand through his hair. "Okay, let's break down what we know. This guy can shapeshift convincingly enough to fool Batman—no offense, Batman."
"None taken," Batman said flatly.
"He can create clones or duplicates of himself," The Flash continued, counting on his fingers.
"He can generate creatures with superhuman abilities—those things that massacred the prison. His disguise cant be detected by normal means that Batman could find. And apparently his biological matter can just... disintegrate on its own? Self-destruct to avoid leaving evidence?" He spread his hands. "How do you catch someone like that? It sounds impossible to even find his real body, let alone contain it. And these mental games he plays..."
He trailed off, shaking his head.
Green Lantern shifted in his seat. "Look, I'm not saying the guy isn't dangerous, but... at least he's going after criminals, right? Not innocents. He's taking out the worst of the worst. "
He held up his hands defensively as several League members turned to stare at him.
"I'm just saying, there are worse targets he could choose."
"That's a dangerous line of thinking," Wonder Woman said sharply. "Today it's serial killers. Tomorrow it could be petty thieves. Next week, anyone he deems 'corrupt' or 'unworthy.' Where does it end, Hal?"
"I know, I know," Green Lantern said. "I'm just pointing out that his targeting is... selective. That tells us something about his mindset."
The Flash grinned suddenly, trying to lighten the mood. "Hey Batman, maybe you should just monitor all the bad guys in Gotham simultaneously. Like, put trackers on every criminal in the city. Then at least you'd know when the Architect was making his move, right?"
Batman's glare could have frozen fire.
"Or not," The Flash amended quickly. "That was a joke. Obviously. A bad joke."
Batman then warned, "If any of you encounter him, listen carefully: do not attempt to destroy his body. Not immediately."
"Why not?" Green Lantern asked, frowning.
"Because you won't know if there's someone inside it," Batman said bluntly. "His clones—or whatever they are—can contain living people. I've seen it. He could use hostages as shields or trap innocents inside his constructs. If you attack with any lethal force, you might kill whoever he's holding."
"So what's the alternative?" Superman asked.
"Containment," Batman said.
"Treat him like any organic matter you need to neutralize without destroying. Freezing is ideal—it immobilizes without causing tissue destruction. Encasement in energy constructs."
He nodded to Green Lantern.
"Phasing attacks that disrupt cellular cohesion without causing explosive damage."
Another nod, this time to Martian Manhunter.
"The priority is to contain first, verify there are no hostages second, then neutralize."
"That gives him time to escape," Aquaman pointed out.
"Yes," Batman agreed. "But it also ensures we don't become murderers ourselves."
Wonder Woman stood up from her chair, "We need additional precautions. Protocols for when we meet up and ways to verify identities that can't be faked through him."
"Code words can be used but aren't enough," Martian Manhunter said.
"Biometric scans?" The Flash suggested.
"He can mimic DNA," Batman said. "I tested the blood sample from our first encounter. Perfect human genetic markers. Completely false."
"What about telepathic verification from J'onn?" Wonder Woman looked at the Martian. "Could you sense the difference between one of us and an imposter?"
Martian Manhunter considered this. "Possibly. Each mind has a unique... signature, for lack of a better term. Surface thoughts can be mimicked, but deeper patterns are harder to fake." He paused. "However without facing Architect directly, I cant say for sure."
"Atleast," Superman said grimly. " It's better than nothing."
"I propose a multi-layered approach," Wonder Woman said, "First layer: biometric scans upon arrival at the Watchtower. Yes, they can be faked, but it creates a baseline. Second layer: telepathic verification from J'onn for any high-security situations. Third layer: behavioral analysis. We all know each other well enough to notice inconsistencies."
"Fourth layer," Batman added. "Physical tests that require genuine superhuman abilities. Make 'Superman' demonstrate super-strength at levels that can't be faked. Make 'Wonder Woman' lift something that requires divine strength. Make 'Flash' run at speeds that would kill a normal human."
"And for those of us without obvious powers?" Green Lantern asked.
"Your ring responds to your specific willpower signature," Batman said. "Have J'onn verify that signature telepathically. Aquaman can demonstrate his telepathic link with marine life—something that can't be mimicked without genuine ability. I can..." He paused. "I'm the easiest to impersonate. No powers. Just skill and resources."
"So we verify you last," Superman said. "Check everyone else first, then have the group confirm you collectively."
Batman nodded. "Agreed."
"What about response time?" The Flash asked. "If we're running through this whole verification process every time someone shows up, that's going to slow us down in emergencies."
"Then we balance security with practicality," Wonder Woman said. "Full verification protocols for planned meetings, expedited protocols for emergencies with full verification afterward. If we suspect any possibility of infiltration during an emergency, we implement immediate containment protocols."
"And what about our civilian identities?" Aquaman asked quietly. "Our families? If the Architect can look like any of us, he could infiltrate our personal lives."
The question hung heavy in the air. Several League members exchanged worried glances.
"We can implement similar protocols at home," Batman said. "Code phrases, behavioral checks, physical verification. It's not perfect, but-." His voice dropped.
"The Architect knows who I am. He knows where I live. He's already proven he can infiltrate my life. The rest of you need to assume you're just as vulnerable."
"That's a hell of a way to live," The Flash muttered.
"It's the price of facing an enemy like this," Wonder Woman said firmly. "We adapt, or we lose. Simple as that."
Superman stood, his presence bringing a sense of resolve to the room. "We'll implement these protocols immediately."
"And in the meantime?" Aquaman asked.
"We watch," Superman said. "We prepare. Atleast he is not actively fighting against us." He looked at Batman. "And we support Gotham however we can, whether Batman wants us to or not."
Batman's expression was unreadable behind his cowl, but after a moment, he gave a single, slight nod.
"Meeting adjourned," Superman said. "Everyone stay alert. If you see anything unusual, anything that might be Architect-related, report it immediately. Don't try to handle it alone."
The League began to disperse, conversations continuing in smaller groups as they headed for the exit. Wonder Woman caught Batman's arm as he moved toward the door.
"Bruce," she said quietly. "You did everything you could. Don't let this consume you."
Batman looked at her for a long moment. "Everything I could wasn't enough, Diana. It never is."
He pulled away gently and walked out, leaving her standing alone in the meeting room.
---
**Wayne Manor – Study**
Bruce Wayne stood in front of the floor-to-ceiling windows, now dressed in civilian clothes.
Alfred entered carrying a silver tray with tea and small sandwiches that Bruce probably wouldn't eat. The butler set it down on the side table and then picked up the remote control.
"Master Bruce," Alfred said quietly, "I believe there's something you should see."
The television flickered to life, showing a news broadcast. The chyron at the bottom read: "ANONYMOUS LEAKS EXPOSE FBI CORRUPTION IN PRISONER TRANSFERS."
Bruce turned from the window to the TV..
The news anchor, a polished woman in her forties, spoke with barely contained excitement:
"—documents released to multiple news outlets reveal a systematic pattern of corruption within federal law enforcement. The anonymous source, calling themselves only 'A Friend of Justice,' has provided extensive evidence of FBI agents and officials receiving bribes to facilitate minimum security placements for any offenders - violent or not."
The screen switched to show documents—heavily redacted but clearly official—with highlighted sections showing money transfers, communications, and prisoner records.
"The leaks detail how dozens of convicted murderers, arsonists, and other dangerous criminals were placed in minimum security facilities in exchange for payments ranging from fifty thousand to over ten million dollars," the anchor continued.
"Perhaps most disturbingly, the documents include detailed records of each prisoner's crimes, evidence that was allegedly suppressed during their trials, and projections showing their statistical likelihood of reoffending if released."
Bruce moved closer to the television, his expression darkening.
"Among the names listed," the anchor said, "is Garfield Lynns, also known as the serial arsonist Firefly, who was recently killed. According to these documents, Lynns was scheduled for placement in a minimum security facility despite being responsible for multiple confirmed deaths and suspected in dozens more."
The screen showed photos of Firefly's victims—families, children, elderly people. The contrast between their innocent faces and the comfortable facility where Firefly would have served his time was jarring.
"Public reaction has been... complex," the anchor said carefully. "While many are outraged by the corruption these leaks reveal, others are expressing a different sentiment."
The broadcast cut to man-on-the-street interviews.
"Good riddance," a middle-aged man in a construction vest said bluntly. "These monsters were going to walk free in a few years anyway. At least someone had the guts to do what the police wouldn't."
A young woman in business attire: "I'm not saying vigilante justice is right, but when the actual justice system is this broken? When it's literally for sale? I understand why someone might take matters into their own hands."
An elderly woman: "The Architect—if that's really who did this—he's protecting us. The police won't. The courts won't. So someone has to."
The broadcast returned to the anchor. "Social media has been flooded with reactions, with hashtags like #ArchitectProtects and #RealJustice trending nationwide. While law enforcement continues to condemn the vigilante's actions, polling suggests that nearly sixty percent of Gotham residents—and a growing percentage nationwide—believe the Architect's actions are justified given the corruption these leaks have revealed."
Alfred paused the television, and the study fell into silence.
"The public perception is shifting again. But this time its going beyond Gotham." Alfred said quietly.
Bruce said nothing, his jaw tight. His eyes were still fixed on the frozen image of the news anchor.
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