Surprise!

There wasn't anything in there at all...

"But..." While you were relieved that you hadn't taken a life after all, you were trying to figure who was controlling the suit.

"How then was the armor able to move of its own accord?" asked the Shining Knight. He and the cowboy inspected the remains for anything that would tip them off on how. You, in the meantime, searched the warehouse from where you were. Nothing really seemed to stand out, far as you could tell, but then you noticed a small something on the floor near a corner: a grey square chip of some kind with a lighter-colored square inside the shape, and a tiny antenna was sticking out. It was bent, probably from that spatial burst you helped create.

Vigilante watched you move from one place to another and had something pinched between your fingers. "Watcha got there, partner?" Justin to see it himself.

You showed it to them. "Some kind of receiver, I think. Must've flown off from the explosion." The two came to inspect it, Vigilante taking it into his fingers for him and Justin to look closely at.

"Whoever took Luthor," said the cowpoke, "knew we'd follow 'im. Controlling his suit from afar was enough to buy time."

"But the question of the day is," you said, "buy time to do what?" But before that question could be picked at some more, a beeping sound came from your earpiece. "Excuse me, gentlemen." You touched it and answered with 'Shadow here.'

"Hello, hero." You recognized the voice as belonging to Lex's bodyguard.

"What is it, Mercy?"

"I need you to come back to Luthor's office. I think there may be a new break in his disappearance. Come alone." That made you suspicious.

"Why just me?"

"It's need to know." Her words didn't fill you with confidence that she was cooperating... "And if they come or interfere, then I go to public news and say that members of your precious Justice League prefer to waste time on interior decorating. And causing traffic jams?" But how did she know...? you thought.

"You're not blackmailing me," you tell her firmly. That got your coworkers' attention.

"Up to you." Venom seemed to drip from her tone of voice... "Do you want all of your reputations tarnished? If not, come alone." And then there was static...

What was her game?!

"This is preposterous! A scandal!" Justin bellowed. "How dare she!"

"I'm with ya, sir Justin," Vigilante agreed with a growl. "What a lowdown snake in the grass..." Then he inquired if you were going to see her.

"What other choice do I have? I don't want you guys getting a bad name because of me. If people can't trust us--"

"We do the right thing, anyway," Vigilante finished for you. Justin smiled with him. "That's what'll help people see why we are heroes; we Justice League look out for each other."

"We are knights of a different court," Justin agreed. His friend placed a hand on the Knight's shoulder. "Every one of us. We have evil to vanquish and a home to protect. Along with its people." That seemed to make you feel somewhat better. But you were still concerned about what troubles awaited you.