While Bruce plays with some Dogs the Rest of the World tries to find out what is going on

"We must leave immediately and help him." Wonder Woman demanded and slammed her fist on the table. But the rest of the league just shook their heads and Clark said what everyone else thought.

"We can't do that Diana. First, we don't even know what hit Gotham, and second, Bruce wouldn't just call out such a isolation on a whim. We don't know anything about what's going on in Gotham."

Diana looked at him grimly but said nothing at first. It was more the concern for her friend that made her talk like that.

"Well, that's not really true either, Clark. At least your cousin was there." Noticed Flash and Clark nodded.

"Right. But she doesn't remember anything about the fight or the subsequent attack on Bruce. Not even J´onn could break this mental blockade and at least he is considered one of the most powerful telepaths in the world. That means we're dealing with a danger that may not come from this world."

The king of Atlantis leaned forward and looked thoughtfully into the round.

"You mean Darkside? Is he back?

"I don't know. It could also be another planet. What can you tell us about it, Hal?"

The Green Lantern shook his head. "I've already asked. The Guardians have no information about an alien currently in my sector. All they said was that it was an internal thing. That means it must be someone who was born here."

"There aren't many here on Earth who could take on a Kryptonian." Diana replied thoughtfully and everyone nodded in agreement.

It was a disturbing thought for her that there was someone who could defeat such a powerful being as Karen so easily. They had seen on the news what a devastation the fight against the unknown enemy had caused. So it had not only come to a mind control, but also to a fight man against man. And there Diana had brought it pretty much to the point. Not many could keep themselves in a fight with a being of Krypton for a long time, especially that there were rumors that Karen was physically superior to her cousin. Maybe it was a peculiarity of the Kryptonian race, maybe just a coincidence but it seemed that the women of this planet had more potential than the men.

"We will follow his judgment for now but I want Gotham to be watched 24 hours a day. We have seen in the news that there are many more missing people than usual and some pretty bestial murders have been committed. J´onn could you put together some dossiers for us on who might be eligible?"

The Martian just nodded thoughtfully then said. "It could also be that it's one of his games."

Again everyone nodded. It was known that Bruce didn't have a lot of trust and had a lot of plans to control the league. Maybe this was a test to see how they would deal with such a danger.

Still, they couldn't agree on how to proceed and so they adjourned the conversation. As they left the room, Karen was already waiting for her relative.

"And do we go back?

"No, Karen. We stay away from Gotham for now." "No Karen.

"WHAT?" I never thought you'd be so cowardly! We have to help Bruce. If I couldn't even take on this enemy, he can't take on him."

Looking smiling at the ground, Clark replied. "Don't worry about him, Karen. He may only be human, but believe me. He's the only person I'd really hate to mess with. And something tells me that his will is even stronger than all of us together. Do not worry. As long as he could still warn us, he has a plan. And as long as Batman has a plan, there is hope."

"We'll see." She only replied angrily.

Meanwhile in Gotham.

Vicky Vale didn't last long. The thrill of getting a new story, of talking to a being of such power and such age, had her firmly in its grip. Her thoughts had circled around him all the time and had never let go of her. There were just too many possibilities she had with this man. And all her good intentions that she would not run after him were gone. She had to find out more about him, she just had to ask him many more questions.

Thanks to her profession she had contacts all over the city. She had her people standing on almost every street providing her with the really great stories. It didn't take long until she got a message on her mobile phone answering her question. One of her contacts had a man whose description corresponded to that of Dracula who had been seen near the Iceberg Lounge.

"The Penguin." She smiled as she read the message.

The big mighty Dracula had already done exactly what she had advised him to do. When she found out that the Riddler had been captured, but his arms and legs were missing, it dawned on her.

"That son of a bitch! He tested me! This fucking bastard just wanted to test if I had the right thoughts. He had done it the same way long ago. Finally a guy who doesn't only think with his dick." She hissed.

Then she started to laugh and grabbed her jacket. This man was well worth a closer look. The only problem now would be how to get into the penguin's home. After all, the two had some interesting stories with each other. And most of them had been published and contributed to his reputation being ruined. On the other hand, he had clashed with Batman long before her first report. No one in town would ever forget the penguin's first appearance when he tried to kidnap all of Gotham's children at Christmas. It was shortly after Batman had first appeared in town and thus probably challenged the penguin. Much time had passed since then and he had served several prison sentences. At the moment he was out on parole, a joke most people thought. She couldn't understand why these lunatics weren't locked away forever or better. The electric chair.

But while she was sitting in the taxi and let herself go to the club, she thought about how to get into the store.

Meanwhile in the VIP cabin.

When Tracy entered the room she had to swallow hard at the sight she saw. Talia and Zatanna were both not present but Dracula was. He seemed to be sitting on the bed and yet it didn't take long for her to realize that he wasn't sitting on the bed but was floating a few inches above it. In complete contempt of gravity, his body rested over the bed in a simplified version of the lotus posture. She could see a strange wavering aura around him. She seemed to be red in a strangely irritating way.

Nothing seemed to indicate that he had noticed that she had entered the room and so she was startled as he suddenly addressed the word to her.

"What can I do for you?"

He neither opened his eyes nor moved his body.

"Forgive me, Count. The landlord wishes to inform you that someone has inquired about you. A reporter's name."

"Vicky Vale. I'm already expecting her." He finished her sentence and let her shudder again.

Maybe this Dracula was a weirdo but the longer she was in the room with him the more insecure she was. This man had some kind of power over everything around him. A power she had never felt before. A power that went through her marrow and leg.

"Yes. Exactly these. My boss lets you know that this woman and he are not friends and he does not want to welcome her to his house.

"That's not a problem." Dracula answered and opened his eyes. He floated effortlessly from the bed and his legs touched the ground as if this man had no weight. "Because you will lead the lady to me, won't you?"

"I... I... As they wish. She nodded and left the room