C517 Spider-Man (Patreon)
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In the dimly lit meeting room, a flicker of an idea burned in Peter's eyes as he leaned forward, his gaze shifting between Superman and The Flash. The weight of the situation hung heavy in the air, but Peter had a plan, and he was eager to share it.
"Here's what I'm thinking," Peter began, his voice steady and confident. "We need a way to make Batman and his followers truly understand why you guys have taken this drastic step toward executing certain criminals. It's not just about making them agree, it's about making them realize the senselessness of your previous methods."
Superman and The Flash exchanged curious glances, their attention fully captured by Peter's proposal.
"I suggest we compile all the recorded crimes that would have a significant impact on them," Peter continued. "These could be anything from phone recordings and security footage, to news broadcasts and military recordings, all depicting the chaos caused by the criminals they've apprehended or the situations they feel the League shouldn’t be policing. The crimes, the suffering of innocent people, the destruction… we'll gather it all."
Superman's brow furrowed as he considered Peter's idea. "Basically, you want to show them the error of their ways. Like the cycle of catch and escape and what happens when we tell ourselves that we can’t get involved with wars?"
"Exactly," Peter confirmed. "And I’m sure we can find some juicy war footage for them to watch as well. As for the rest, we don’t just have to use just any crime footage. We'll focus on the notorious ones, the likes of the Joker, Lex Luthor, and others. We'll put together a comprehensive hours long documentary of their crimes and the devastation they've wrought on innocent lives."
As Peter spoke, his eyes lit up once again, bright with a new idea. “And afterward, you can use the documentary to help persuade the world to see things our way. After all, not everyone will agree with the new and improved League’s actions. Sooner or later, the League will stop a large country from doing something unforgivable, and that certainly won’t sit well.”
Superman seemed to agree. “I’m sure there’s already meetings taking place, discussing our capture of that South American dictator.”
The Flash nodded slowly. "Yeah, there was and Batman was a part of them, but we can worry about that later.”
Superman raised a brow at that, but decided that ignore it for now. “Back to our current situation, I agree with this plan of yours. If we can help them see the sheer senselessness of what we've been doing, maybe they'll understand why we decided to take more extreme measures."
Peter nodded. "That's precisely my goal. We'll make them watch every single recording, confront the real consequences of the rules they’re trying so hard to protect."
Superman leaned back in his chair, deep in thought. The more he thought about it, the more he felt that this approach could provide the perspective that might bridge the gap between Batman and himself.
"But will they agree to this?" Superman questioned. "It's not going to be easy to convince Batman and the others to sit down and watch these recordings. They haven’t exactly shown a willingness to compromise."
Peter acknowledged the challenge with a nod. "You're right, it won't be easy. But we can simply make watching the video the stipulation for their release. After all, who wouldn’t be willing to watch a movie if it meant getting out of prison?"
Superman couldn’t help but agree. “That could work…”
The Flash chimed in, showing his support for the plan. "I think it's worth a shot. If we can get through to them, it's a step toward uniting the League again."
Superman, despite his earlier doubts, felt a renewed sense of hope. "Alright, let's give it a try. If this can help us move forward, I'm willing to do whatever it takes."
Peter smirked, hoping that his plan would work. "Great. Tony and I will get to work on collecting the recordings and setting up the presentation. It shouldn’t take too long since we have Jarvis to do most of the work for us, so they shouldn’t be prisoner for much longer. Maybe a day?”
“Who’s Jarvis?” Flash asked.
“Jarvis is…”
————
The next day arrived, and the large meeting room was set for the awaited gathering. Peter and Tony had been working tirelessly with the invaluable assistance of Jarvis, who had single-handedly scoured databases, swept the internet for relevant videos, and seamlessly edited them into a comprehensive documentary.
The footage they had assembled showcased the full extent of the chaos caused by the villains that Batman and his followers had apprehended and subsequently released, as well as the wars and other atrocities that have been allowed to take place under the Leagues nose for more than a decade.
As Batman and his half of the League were led into the room, they exchanged wary glances. They hadn't been informed about the purpose of this meeting, only that they were to attend. Their restraints, which seemed to be magical in nature, kept them and their powers under control for the time being.
Superman, flanked by Peter, Tony, The Flash, and Wonder Woman stood at the front of the room. Batman's stern expression remained unchanged, and his voice was laced with skepticism as he asked, "What is this about, Clark?"
Superman stepped forward, his gaze unwavering. "We've organized this meeting to provide you with an opportunity to understand why we've chosen the path we've taken. It's important that you grasp the full implications of our previous methods."
Green Lantern, who had been locked up alongside Batman and the rest, chimed in, his tone defiant. "This is absurd! We shouldn't be imprisoned in the first place."
Superman sighed, understanding their frustration. "And you will be released after you finish watching the video. But first, we need you all to understand the consequences of your actions and why we've resorted to a more strict approach."
The room was filled with murmurs of disagreement and frustration. The Flash, who had once stood on their side, stepped forward, joining Superman and Peter. "I used to think like you guys, too. But then I realized that our old methods were causing more harm than good."
Batman's stern demeanor remained unwavering as he crossed his arms. "What's the catch? It can't be this simple."
Superman met Batman's gaze, his expression solemn. "There's no catch. The only condition is that you must watch the entire presentation without looking away or interrupting."
Green Lantern, still defiant, raised an eyebrow. "And if we refuse?"
Superman's voice was firm. "Then you'll remain in confinement until you decide to watch it. We're not seeking to punish you, but we need you to understand the gravity of the situation."
Martian Manhunter, who had been silently observing, finally spoke up. "This is insane. We've been doing the right thing. You won’t change my mind if that, no matter how many videos you have."
Flash shook his head. "It might have felt like the right thing, but was it the right thing for innocent people? Or is it just the right thing for us? To give us a villain to fight, or make us feel good because we did the ‘right’ thing. No, the right thing would have been to protect the innocent and put a permanent stop to people like the Joker, who had the entire city of Gotham afraid to go outside their homes, for fear that they might catch his eye."
“!” As soon as Flash finished speaking, the room was filled with shouts as everyone tried to counter his opinion.
…
Finally, with everyone agreeable and seated, albeit begrudgingly, Superman took a deep breath and pressed a button on a small remote. In response, the largest screen in the room lit up, casting a glow on the restrained League members. The documentary began, and the room fell into silence as the graphic depictions of crime and chaos unfolded before them.
The documentary was meticulously designed to convey the brutality and senselessness of the crimes committed by the villains they had captured and subsequently released. It was a painstaking montage of raw, unfiltered reality. The scenes depicted were a grim reflection of the darkness that had been allowed to fester, causing untold suffering and chaos.
Mass Murder.
Villains, like the Joker, have been almost constantly responsible for mass killings or terrorist acts. The League members were forced to watch the heart-wrenching aftermath of bombings, mass shootings, and large-scale destruction, which took countless lives. The images of grieving families and broken communities left a haunting impact.
Kidnapping and Torture.
Cases of innocent people being kidnapped, tortured, and traumatized appear alongside the occasional video. Scenes of victims in captivity, recorded by their own captors. their eyes filled with terror, sent a shiver down the spines of the restrained League members. It was a harsh reminder of the cruelty that had been enabled by their previous actions.
Serial Killings.
The overwhelming number of serial killers among villains was shocking to say the least. Almost every villain could be called a serial killer. The faces of their victims and their chilling stories added to the growing weight of despair in the room.
Psychological Manipulation.
Some of the most disgusting criminals manipulate and exploit vulnerable individuals, like Harley Quinn, who was once a normal Psychiatrist before the Joker took an interest in her. Stories of survivors haunted by their experiences served as a stark reminder of the villains' capacity for manipulation and cruelty.
Arson.
Fiery destruction caused by acts of arson, committed by criminals like Firefly, resulting in the loss of property and lives. Burned homes, businesses, and lives torn apart by flames were distressing images for the League members to witness.
Drug Trafficking.
The devastating impact of drug trafficking on communities and individuals. Criminals like Two Face, The Joker, and The Penguin made most of their money through dealing drugs. The toll it took on families and the victims of addiction painted a bleak picture of the consequences of the villains' actions.
Human Trafficking.
Next, detailed stories of human trafficking, particularly the exploitation of children and women, unfolded before everyone’s eyes. The horrors of human trafficking were laid bare, forcing the restrained League to confront the painful reality of their past decisions.
Corruption.
All around the world, criminals have infiltrated and corrupted institutions, eroding trust in law and order. Stories of justice perverted by corruption left a sense of bitterness and disillusionment.
Escapes from Prison.
One of the main subjects that the video emphasized was the repeated escapes from prison, showing just how broken the justice system really is. The compilation of jailbreaks, eluding capture, and returning to a life of crime was a stark reminder of the inefficacy of their previous methods.
War, war crimes, and countries committing atrocities.
This may have been the hardest portion of the video to watch. The lack of care the League had shown toward the international community and its problems was staggering. The portrayal of war-torn regions, war crimes, and countries committing atrocities, like slavery, genocide, and much more, left a bitter taste in the mouths of the restrained League members.
As the presentation progressed, the restrained League members found it increasingly difficult to watch. Their initial resistance slowly gave way to a profound realization of the flaws in their way of doing things. Shock, sadness, disgust, anguish, and guilt manifested in their expressions. It was a painful journey of self-discovery and understanding.
The room remained silent, save for the haunting sounds and narratives of the documentary. For the first time, Batman and his followers began to question their previous methods and their roles in enabling these atrocities. The notion that Superman might be right had crept into their minds, and the weight of that realization pressed heavily upon them.
A/N: 2000 words :) (edit: Happy Halloween! Also, field trip to Peter’s universe with some League members in the next chapters.)