A few hours following his meeting with Darkseid, Bruce Wayne was tossed back by a pair of Parademons back into the Slave Pits with the other prisoners.

The Slave Pits, that looked like a mix between city slums and a prison, were built inside the gargantuan trench that circled Darkseid's palace. No one could escape unless they were foolish enough to climb the wall or fly out, but then they would have to face the army of Parademons and Hellhounds that guarded the palace.

Only a few chosen prisoners were actually kept in cells. The rest formed the population of the Slave Pits, free to rule themselves. Food was tossed at random locations everyday. At that point it was everyone for themselves. And if the prisoners happened to gather and revolt, Darkseid's spies among them would do anything to sabotage the rebellion.

Luckily for Batman and his followers, they were able to dispatch all the spies that were trying to interfere in their plans.

Virgil Hawkins aka Static waited for the Parademons to leave before approaching Batman.

"You okay, Bruce?" he asked the older man, helping him up.

"I've had worse," Bruce replied, still a little unstable on his legs. They started walking towards a building. The only way to distinguish between buildings was by the way they were damaged.

As they walked in silence, they passed a market area. People in the Slave Pits sometimes managed to grow, make or find something valuable that they traded for what they needed.

As they approached their destination, they came across a group of thugs. It was quite an infamous band that offered protection for different valuables, though if you refused to hire them...

"Well, well, well. Lookie who's a there," the leader slurred as he came to Bruce. He flinched slightly when the Batman glared at him.

"Freak-show is over. Move," he warned back in his trademark low and dangerous tone.

"Whoa! Take at easy man. We donna want'a fight. We wanna in on whatevar you guys are doin'," the thug leader replied in a falsely compliant voice.

"No you don't," Bruce deadpanned. That riled up the alien.

"Ya think ya so mighty with yar littla plan. But guess what, I'ma gonna rant ya out to the Parademons. They'll teach ya a-," he started, but was interrupted by Batman turning him around and locking his arm behind his back.

"Listen up, scum," Bruce whispered harshly in the thug's ear, loud enough for everyone to hear. "I don't know who you think you are, but think twice before interfering in my business."

"Or what," he yelped as Bruce pulled on his arm.

"Or I'll make you," he threatened in his best Bat-voice before pushing him back to his men. They got into position to fight but backed off immediately when electricity surged from Static's hands. They ran away with their tails between their legs, some literally.

When the pests were gone, Static and Batman entered the headquarters of their little group. It looked like a makeshift hospital built in times of war, patients lying on cots and people with no medical formation trying to help them out.

Bruce and Virgil strolled past them and entered a room in the back. There awaited their allies. Carol Danvers aka Captain Marvel or Miss Marvel, Clint Barton aka Hawkeye, Luke Cage aka Power Man, Koriand'r aka Starfire, Conner Kent or Kon-El aka Superboy and Ronald Raymond aka Firestorm stood in a circle around Hal Jordan's cot. Peter Parker aka Spider-Man's cot was still empty.

Bruce approached the former Green Lantern. "How are you doing, Hal?"

"No so bad, considering they played with me for four hours. How did your meeting go?" he asked, but Batman only smirked in answer. "That good, eh?"

Bruce nodded before asking "no news from our infiltration team?"

"Not yet," Carol replied. "But it's a big palace. Anyone can get lost in it."

"Not them, no," Batman explained before the door to the room opened to let in a battered Peter Parker leaning over the shoulder of Barbara Minerva aka Cheetah.

"Hey guys, can you still tell it's me? Because I feel like I'm missing some pieces there and there," Peter joked weakly as his friends helped him to his cot. "So... How are you doing, Boss? Any news from the front?"

"Fine and nothing yet," Bruce answered simply. Peter was about to say something when two snakes entered the room through a hole in the corner. The two animals then morphed into their last two allies, Rogue and Mystique.

"Did you locate the main armory and the trophy hall?" Batman asked before anyone could greet them.

"We did," Rogue said with a frown. "And before you ask, yes, it's there. Everything."

"Good," Batman replied neutrally. "We can start with phase two, then."