He Just Can't Do It

''I Can't Bruce. I Will Continue to Support and Aid You, But I Can't Join You. I Can't Betray My Friends.'' Says Garrett ''So Be It.'' Says Batman. Garrett Feels A Hand On His, and looms to see Zatanna Smiling at Him Lovingly. ''I Have An Appointment With Prince Brion Markov in Half An Hour. So I'll Have To cut this Short.'' Says Garrett As He Stands. ''Understood.'' Says Aquaman as Garrett and Zatanna Kiss.

Garrett Was Back in Markovia and Speaking To Doctor Helga Jace and Gregor and Brion Markov. "I've Got Some Bad News, Several League Members Including Founding Member Batman, Have Resigned." Says Garrett. "That's Insane! Why Would they Resign?" Demands Brion. "Remember my Interview with Ms Grant? How I Spoke About the Light?" Asks Garrett. "Yes, What About it?" Asks Gregor. "That Member I Wouldn't Name? It's Lex Luthor. His Restrictions on the League Have Caused A Division in our Ranks. But I Need To Ask Prince Gregor, Would You Be Open to Having My Meta-Human Reality Series in Markovia? It'd Have A Focus on Stopping The Meta-Human Trafficking that Plague's Markovia, and It'd Bring Exposure to both Markovia and Meta-Humans." Garrett Asks. "Hmm, You Ask A Lot, But Perhaps Your Right, With The Justice League Divided and Trafficking at A Record High, We Could Use the Help Generated by this Series." Says Gregor. "I Will Insist On Your Brother Brion acting as A Judge However." Says Garrett as both Brothers Seem Surprised. "Me? Why?" Asks Brion. "I Say This because it would give Legitimacy to Some Markovian's Who might be resistant to such an idea on their home soil. Furthermore, I Suspect Princess Tara might have been Abducted due to the Meta-Gene. So Brion's Presence Could Bring people with similar circumstances onto the Show." Says Garrett as Gregor Nods In Understanding.

"Makes Sense I Suppose." Agree's Brion. "Alright, Make it Happen." Says Gregor. "I'll Send word to the Meta-Project Board. Bruce Will Probably Sign off on it right away. He'll Probably be Able to Persuade Batman to agree as well. They're Close Friends after all." Says Garrett as His Watch starts Beeping. "Excuse Me For A Second." Says Garrett as he leaves to take the Call. "Garrett Here?" Says Garrett into the Watch. "Garrett, We're Coming to Markovia. Can You Arrange Something?" Comes Nightwing's Voice. "I'll Make Arrangements. Time-Frame?" Asks Garrett. "Soon. Very Very Soon." Came the Reply. "Everything Alright?" Asks Brion. "Yes, Just My Fiance Calling. "Fiance?" Asks Doctor Jace. "Zatanna. Daughter of Zatara." Says Garrett as He Takes His Leave.

Garrett Had Found The Team A Place To Hide Out While In Markovia, Even Though His Relations With Grayson Were Strained Due In No Small Part To Barbara. Dick and Garrett Had Agreed To Maintain A Distance From Each Other, In Exchange, The Last Of Garrett and Barbara's Children Would Be His To Raise. Barbara Was Retired, Since Joker Had Crippled Her, and Garrett Remained Barbara's Physical Therapist, In Spite Of Their Estrangement, But Zatanna and Garrett Were An Awkward Topic Between Dick, Garrett, and Barbara and Vice Versa With Dick and Barbara To Zatanna, Babs, and Garrett.

But Regardless, Garrett Happened To Have A Lunch Date With His Fiancee, Who As It Happened Had Found Both Herself and Garrett Invited To A Royal Fundraiser and Gala For The Meta-Project Following Wayne Enterprises Withdrawal. The Timing Was Bad Enough, But When Lex Luthor Offered To Fund The Campaign That Wayne Enterprises Pulled Out Of, Garrett However Tempted He Might Have Been, Couldn't Refuse. He Did However Line Out A Number Of Conditions For Luthor To Sign On Both A Legally Binding Document and On Video and Audio Recording. Luthor Was In No Way Allowed To Bully Or Influence The Project Or It's Members, He Was Forbidden From Undermining The Project and Its Goals In Any Way Regardless Of Involvement Both Personal, Political, and Economic. Finally, Any Attempt To Influence Contestants Was Strictly Prohibited and Punishable By A Multi-Billion Dollar Lawsuit.

In Regards To The Royal Fundraiser and Gala, Zatanna Were A Fancier Version Of Her Typical Attire, and Garrett Wore His Iconic White Tuxedo and Tie With Red Highlights That Many Had Come To Associate With Him. Garrett Had A Distinct Dress Style At Parties and Personal Events, He Wore A White Tuxedo, With Secondary Colors Of Deep Crimson Red, and Ebony Black. The Only Places One Wouldn't See Garrett Wearing These, Was In Bed, In The Lab, Or On A Mission. But Once Again, Regardless, He Had A Party With Zatanna To Attend.

Garrett Was Talking With Princes Brion and Gregor Markov. "I Have Friends From My Old Special Ops Team In The Crowd, Ready In Case Anybody Tries Something Prince Gregor." Says Garrett. "What Of Your Fiancee?" Asks Brion. "Zatanna Is My Plus One, I Have Informed Her Of The Necessity To Avoid Confrontational Situations Where She Will Have To Use Her Magic If At All Possible...But, She Has A Willful Personality That Matches The Passion You and Your People Seem To Possess Prince Brion." Says Garrett. "What Of The Regency? Will You Stay On As An Advisor?" Asks Gregor. "Perhaps, I'm Expecting My Third Child By My Now Estranged Former Fiancee, and I May Need To Take Some Time Off, But I Also May Need To Participate On League Missions As A Member Of The Justice League." Says Garrett. "Well, Whatever You Decide, Just Know That Your Always Welcome In Markovia Master Caine." Says Gregor. "I Appreciate That Your Majesty, But One Cannot Know The Truth Until One Has Died." Says Garrett, Subtly Referencing His Experience As A Reach Experiment.

Taking His Leave Of The Princes, Garrett Returns To Zatanna's Side, As She Finishes Showcasing A Minor Display Of Magic For Some Important Guests. "You Speak With The Team?" Asks Garrett. "Yes, Dick's Agreed To Try and Keep The Situation From Getting Overly Out Of Hand, But We Should Remain Prepared In Any Case." Says Zatanna. "Agreed, I'll Have The Markovian Security Force Conduct Three-Man Sweeps To Ensure The Event Remains Undisturbed, and The Meta-Squad Will Shadow The VIP's." Says Garrett.