Well... I really should stop writing all these. Okay note to self: stop publishing new stories because of plot bunnie-god damn it too late. Welp. Injustice is up to the plate that is the Lead story archive.
My name is Henry James MacLeod. I'm 20 years old, and am probably the most unfit guy for the line of work that I'm in. To be honest I'm not entirely sure when this all started. Maybe it was when Professor Isley went crazy. Maybe it was when Superman took power over the country. I don't know. All I know is I got put on the radar. Why? Because I ran. Because I saw what Superman was doing to criminals, and ran away, right smack into Robin. The hooded swordsman stood with his arms crossed. A smug smirk on his face.
"Don't you know stealing is bad?" He said, my face was covered by a black bandana. The hood of my jacket obscured my prematurely gray hair.
"I'm on my own. I don't have a choice but to steal to survive. Can you blame me for that?" I dropped the duffel bag I was carrying to the ground and readied myself for a fight.
"You really wanna fight me?" Robin asked, the handle of his sword stuck over his shoulder. By his voice he was younger than I was.
"No. But it's a fight I have a chance of surviving or a fight that I'll die in against Superman. He's probably watching us right now, in all honesty."
"If you know that, why fight? Why break curfew to steal?" A new voice, the man himself, Kal'El. Clark Kent. Superman. I nearly jumped out of my skin at this, immediately diving to my right into a roll to gain some distance between me and the kryptonian.
"The regime doesn't take nicely to people that don't agree." I slowly backed towards the edge of the rooftop we were on. Better to run for it than fight at this point. Even if I was gonna get captured by Supes either way. "They wouldn't give me my rations because my card had me marked for relation to a thug. I didn't want this. I followed your laws. I did my work, but when I'm discriminated against because my old man worked for Cobblepot? I'm not going to starve to death because of the bigots you employ. And I'm not giving up my freedom because I did what I needed to to survive." Robin took a step forward, handcuffs in hand. I growled and raised my hands up balled into fists.
"I'm sorry to hear that...however you still broke the law. There are consequences that must be enforced." The kryptonian's eyes were solemn as he said this. Robin took this as his cue to go for the arrest and tried to restrain my wrists. I knocked the cuffs out of his hands, grabbed him by the links of his cape, and slammed my forehead into his nose. There was a loud crack as I did this before I jumped over the edge of the building, I caught myself on a fire escape and kept running. The frustrated yell of Robin could've been heard from Bludhaven...Jesus I ran like hell. What was I thinking?! Oh man oh man, I can't fight these guys...fucking Superman?! Jeez I messed up.
"That really, wasn't a good move, young man." Superman stated. Having flew to follow me.
"I fucking know that!" I growled, turning sharply and hopping onto a fence before hopping wall to wall up an alleyway to the rooftops. "Why aren't you beating the shit out of me already?!" I shouted at the kryptonian, who seemed amused.
"This is a test for Robin."
"And you're following me in case I somehow get away from him so you can still take me into custody."
"Bingo."
"Fuck you...man I used to be on the road to clearing my family's name before you put us on the blacklist permanently…" I mumbled, ducking a birdarang launched my way. I kept running. Jumping, clambering my way up and over most obstacles.
"And how is that?" Was this guy serious? I'm running for my life here and he's trying to have a conversation based on my stress-rambling? Fuck it.
"Freshman Year in college. Botany 101. Top of the class, TA. Gotham Tech University. Jesus I could've done it. But then Professor Isley got in that accident and now she's trying to kill all humans." Another birdarang flew my way, deflected by a hastily picked up brick. "Then that shit with that Dark Khan guy...fuck man...after that the internship at Wayne Manor...had to fight off that fucker Zsaz...then Joker nuked metropolis...a year later I'm here. Running from Goddamn Robin and rambling to fucking Superman because I can't shut up when I'm stressed." A third birdarang, also deflected but followed by a bloody-nosed seventeen year old. I let out a shout and ducked his first punch. Rolling into a fighting stance and keeping my eyes locked onto his.
"You broke my nose."
"That's kinda what happens when you get headbutted y'know…"
"Shut up and fight."
I did so, ducking another punch and swung my elbow into the adolescent's gut. His retaliatory kick slammed into my sternum and knocked me back a few feet, I rushed forward and slid, sweeping his legs from underneath him and kipping back up to my feet. "Muay Thai...and Gotham street fighting. Not bad." Robin now wore a grin on his face that bordered on predatory. "But not good enough." I heard beeping all around me.
"Shit." There was a series of small explosions that knocked me around the rooftop, I was in so much pain I thought I would go into shock. I groaned as I rolled off my stomach, staring at the sky. I was on the edge of the building.
"What'd I expect...picking a fight with fuggin Robin while suffering mild starvation..." I mumbled. The young crime fighter himself took a seat next to where I lay, I didn't try to get up for fear of blacking out.
"Gonna come quietly now?" The teen asked, my response? I rolled off the edge of the building. I saw a red blur heading my way before everything went black.
-three hours later, Thomas Wayne city park-
I woke up on a park bench, a bit of bread and water settled next to me, and the Flash sitting on the ground against a light post.
"You often pick fights with assassins?" The man asked. I shook my head grabbing the water.
"Suffering from mild starvation...judgement ain't exactly the best at the moment." I took a sip of the water and sat there for a while before the red-suited ex-regime spoke again.
"You should find shelter, lay low for a while."
"I'm already on the shit list. Supes probably ran my card and file and has a wanted poster out by now. Fucking X-ray vision." I mumbled. Taking another drink and a bite of the bread.
"You don't have powers. Or a reason to fight other than to survive. Why keep antagonizing Authority?"
"Sic Semper Tyrannis."
"Batman would like you."
"He put my pa in Blackgate so yeah. I don't think he would. Although, he did give me the internship...I don't know." I took another chomp of the bread. "I'm just trying to get by. If seen too much shit hit the fan in the last two years. Just too much."
"It's been rapid fire with that lately hasn't it."
"Like a Mac-10" I said, before getting up and stretching with a wince. "Thank you, for everything."
"I'm just trying to wipe a bad conscience. No need to thank me."
"You still deserve thanks. Even if you don't think so."
-oh lookie another timeskip-
Gotham at night was always quiet. As to be expected when supervillians ruled the place when the enforcers of the regime weren't around. Me? I was walking to clear my head. Planning my next move. I was a wanted man now. Assaulting an enforcer of the regime, my ration cards were useless, my ID card was burned in a trash can along with the tracking chip inside of it. I kept walking before stopping and leaning against a light post near the botanic gardens.
"I feel like I'm back in the lab with Doc Isley. Fumbling around trying to figure out what I'm the hell I'm supposed to do." I mumbled. Sliding down the light post and taking a seat, my head in my hands. "Jesus I fucked up. I'm on the radar now. Damn it." I was so absorbed in my thoughts the hiss of a gas canister barely registered. I turned to the noise to see a man in a lab coat only for a brief moment before a cloud of green gas clouded his form. I sighed heavily. "And my day couldn't get any worse now could it. Hello Doctor Crane."
"Henry." The man's voice was distorted and growly. Standing where he was before was a demonic rendition of a scarecrow. "It's been some time, hasn't it."
"Is there any reason you're trying to get me to shit myself, Doctor?" I stood up to face the man. My hands in my pockets. I could feel the fear toxin's effects on my brain. Heightened sense of pain, twinges of instinctive flight responses.
"Science, my boy. Science. Fear in individuals varies by their mindsets at the time of stimulation. Your reaction is unique." The scarecrow produced a human-skin bound book and proceeded to write notes down with a severed finger. In all actuality it was probably just a notepad and pen.
"I'm simply tired of all the shit life has thrown at me today. Fighting Robin, getting blown up. Things like that. Is there any way I can just ask you to leave me alone, doctor?"
"I'm afraid not, Henry. Your self-control is impressive for a civilian. Most would run by now. You've spiked my curiosity."
"I worked with Doc Isley as a TA. Most poisons don't have much affect on me anymore. Your toxin isn't as potent on me. Just a case of reinforcement caused by repeat exposure."
"Heh, ironic."
"Can I continue my existential crisis without my life in danger now?"
"I would never harm one of my students, Henry. I'm shocked you would think that of me." The illusion feigned offense. I stared blankly at it.
"Your toxin can put people into shock if unprepared. I got lucky because I know you, Doctor Crane.
"You really are a smart one, Henry. However, there is more study to be done. I can't have my newest subject get away from me so soon can I?" I sighed heavily and drew my blade from the sheath at the back of my waist. A military issue K-Bar, and got into a fighting stance.
"Bravery is not the absence of fear."
"But the act of performing despite the presence of fear. What do you fear, Henry? What keeps you up at night?"
"That's a personal matter doctor." I lunged forward, striking the scarecrow with the weighted pommel of the knife before switching to an ice-pick grip and getting into a proper knife-fighting stance. The illusion hefted a bloody sickle.
"Fear lowers inhibitions on violence. You are afraid, Henry. I can't say I blame you."
"I never said I wasn't afraid. I don't want to die tonight, doctor." Scarecrow flung the sickle at me, I deflected the blade and grabbed the chain attached to it, yanking the scarecrow towards me I ducked a swipe and sliced at his legs. Blood on the blade, real blood. An angry backhand sent me flying back.
"Sharp knife you got there, afraid it might break?"
"No, I'm afraid you might've busted a few ribs there...what'd you hit me with really?"
"Trade secret Henry."
"Guess I'll have to knock you unconscious and search your pockets to find out." In a split-second move I flung my knife at the monster, rushing at him right behind it. He dodged the knife throw but not the following haymaker or elbow cross that hit the scientist behind the illusion. Sending him sprawling to the ground. "Your brain is rattling in your skull. Do me a favor as one of your students: stay down." I recovered my knife and began to walk away.
"You hit as hard as the batman does. Not surprising. I saw what you did to Zsaz. Robin may have finished the job but you definitely got it started. Have to say I was a bit proud when I saw that. Zsaz crying out in fear clutching the stump of his hand." The scientist was laying on his back staring at the sky, most likely suffering nausea and unsteadiness. I sighed and kept walking, "you can't get out of the world you've made waves in, Henry. Not here. Not in this war."
"Well I'm stuck on this side of the conflict Doctor. All that's waiting for me at the quarantine is death by heat vision." I made my way away from the doctor. Moving towards the botanical gardens at the center of the city. I had a stash of supplies hidden there. A mask. Body armor. A handgun. No food, unfortunately. But I could use the anonymity. Worth the risk. Entering the botanical gardens I observed the overgrown vines that took over the area. "Professor Isley…" I whispered, dipping into a crouch and sneaking my way towards my stash of supplies, being careful not to disturb any of the plants. If I had caught a break she wasn't home. If not, well there's a reason I was making sure I only ever stepped on stone.
I made it to my stash, there was just one problem, however. The alcove in the concrete where I had placed the supplies was empty. I sighed, mumbling, "Of course she found it. Can't catch a break today can I?"
"Word travels fast Henry. While I find it sweet you avoided harming my children, I didn't expect you to come visiting so soon." The soft sensual voice of my former professor emanated from the brush to my left, the woman herself seated cross legged in a throne of flora. I sighed and turned to face the woman, flopping down to a seat on the stone walkway.
"Doctor Isley. I'm assuming you had my number since I got into the gardens?" I asked, the woman chuckled lightly, she held the duffle bag of supplies in her lap.
"I saw your entire spat with Scarecrow, Henry. My poor little TA, forced to fight against his former psychology professor to survive." The woman's voice was melodious. I kept my eyes locked on hers, she had killed people before for far less than trespassing in her home. "Heard you got into a fight with the bat-brat as well, when did you get so violent, Henry? You used to be so shy."
"I had to fight off a serial killer, whose hand I cut off to end the fight, Superman went insane and I was suffering from mild starvation until about three hours ago. I'm just trying to survive."
"That's understandable, however you're in my house at this moment, looking for a liaison between student and teacher?" the woman's smirk was toxic, I just shrugged.
"Just left my bag here, came to get it back, you never had a problem with that when we were in the lab…" i sighed "let's be real here Doc, I don't want to die today. I don't want to fight you either, please, just give me my mask and my armor and I'll leave you alone." there were vines slowly crawling up the stone I was sitting on.
"And why would I do that, Henry? It's been so long, to see my favorite student reduced to scavenging and thievery. Why it makes even my children cry." she was cradling a vine with a rose flower at the tip as she said this, her smirk grew, "why not stay? Learn a few more things about botany?" Pheromones were basically flooding the room, I just kept my eyes on hers. "You came all this way, who am I to turn away a student?" I sighed at this,
"Doc, we spent the better amount of three semesters in the lab working with toxins and pheromones. Please don't waste your energy on trying to use them to convince me." Pamela laughed, a few of her vines tied themselves around my ankles.
"Had to see for myself if you really were immune. Way to make a lady self-conscious, Henry. Maybe I'm losing my touch." she said, stepping down from her throne and sauntering towards me.
"Doc, I know you. Please, I'm just trying to get by here. I'm stuck in a warzone." I pleaded as the woman took a seat next to me and draped an arm around my shoulder.
"You know I'm not one to be unreasonable, Henry. I'm sure we can come to a...mutually beneficial agreement."
"Doctor Isley, I'm a fucking horrible thief and the regime has my number.. What do you want from me? I can't do much…" I mumbled, looking towards the floor vines were rising up around us, cutting off my escape, not that I would've been able to escape anyway, too much history between me and Isley. Hell I practically lived with the woman when we had a project running, lots of days hunched over a microscope, watching the reactions of alien flora.
"Simple, Henry." she used the arm around my shoulder to lift my head up and face her, "I'm feeling nostalgic want to have a conversation with my favorite student." I raised an eyebrow at the woman,
"You seriously just want to talk?"
"Why not? It's the least you could do considering you came into my home uninvited. Twice, I might add. I'm not going to kill you. No that's just a waste, don't you think?" the woman's smile was predatory, the way she whispered the sentence into my ear left no doubt of an ulterior motive.
"What's the catch, Pamela? You've killed people for much less."
"You have to do the one thing that you've been fighting for all day, Henry." She slid over to straddle my lap, her face inches from my own. "Survive." she closed the gap and planted a deep kiss on my lips, her arms holding my head in place as I tried to jerk away. Burning pain spread throughout my body as her toxin made its way into my system, she stood up and took a step back, observing as I keeled over, slamming a fist into the concrete, cracks spiralling from the impact point. I stared at my fist, breathing heavily as my veins made themselves more pronounced, the dark toxin tainting my blood staining them black. Minutes of feeling like lava was flowing through my veins, the color soon drained from my veins, something welled up in the back of my throat and I coughed, hacking out a black mass of liquid onto the concrete walkway. For the second time today I rolled over onto my back to stare at the sky.
"Doc...for the love of all that is holy, please don't do that again…" I mumbled, turning my head towards my former professor.
"Oh quit being a baby. Anyone else would be dead. Including Superman. This answers my question if your immunity really was just from repeat exposure. No you have this immunity all on your own, Henry, welcome to the Meta-Human race." Doctor Isley once again took a seat next to me, this time lifting my head and placing it in her lap, I winced.
"Well shit. Another thing to get me on the regime's shit list." I mumbled, staring up at the woman, "That really friggin hurt Doc."
"What'd you expect, Henry? That dose is meant to kill 'gods'. Instantly. Kryptonian deathbell and Tamaranian janis root. Along with every known poison on earth. Its gonna hurt." she idly played with my grayed locks. "It was brown with flecks of white when I last saw you. What have you been getting into, Henry?"
"You were in that accident, believe it or not I was worried, then I was attacked by Victor fucking Zsaz at my internship at Wayne Manor. Cut his hand off and threw it into the fireplace. He dove after it, he's lucky he did, cauterized his stump when he did...jesus I was scared to hell and back. Then that Dark Khan insanity. And after that it just went to hell completely with Metropolis and Superman's regime. Been scavenging and stealing to survive for months. The worst of it happened today. But you know that already." she laughed lightly at the end before chiming in,
"All of us saw what you did to Zsaz. Fries was concerned, Crane seemed proud, I just wondered what you looked like after that fight. Insane as he is Zsaz was a competent fighter. Fries was the first to ask if you were harmed, the guards were so confused as to why. All three of us had to explain that we were your professors. I believe his words were 'I was not always confined to this accursed suit you imbecile. Three of the people in this room once graced Gotham Tech University as professors. Henry James MacLeod was a student to all of us, and a friend to me.' Eloquent man, ." she idly played with my hair for a few more minutes before I spoke again,
"I dunno what I'm gonna do, Doc. Too much has happened too quickly. I'm no hero, or a criminal. I'm a bloody college student." I mumbled, sitting up, "this ain't a lab environment or a Muay Thai tournament...I'm out if my element here."
"I hate to say this, but your best bet would be to find one of the Bat's soldiers. Harley's one of them, as is Canary, there's also the new one, Blue Beetle. He's young but tough. You could always stay here. But then that would open a whole new assortment of problems. I took a look at that armor in the bag, not bad. Bulletproof, even to piercing rounds. Acid resistant. Not bad at all. Make it yourself?" I laughed a little and shook my head.
Isley was smirking again, I laughed and started unpacking the armor, piece by piece.
"It's just modified BSAA armor. Extra plates, resin coating. Nothing special." After all of the armor pieces were laid out I pulled out the mask, the melodious laugh made itself known again.
"I added a small touch to that piece, hope you don't mind." The mask was simple, white on one side, ashen gray on the other with flames and embers framing the eyes. That was before Doctor Isley's modifications. It still held the one half of fire and embers. The once plain white left side was now decorated with living vines, clutching the side of the mask and curling around the eye. "I rather enjoy having a friend. It'll be good to have a friend like me out there, now, everyone will know. Best think of a moniker for yourself, Henry. You won't get far without one. You ever need a place to lay low, or want a less lethal kiss come on by. I'll curl your toes." Her smile was sensuous and predatory, but her tone was just friendly, her expression softened, "don't die, Henry." I nodded and shed my jacket and shirt, ignoring the wolf whistle from Doctor Isley, and donning the armor. It was probably more complicated than it needed to be but the extra protection was worth it. A few minutes of fiddling with the plates later I was securing the final piece, a vibranium bracer. Probably the most expensive thing in the armor, stolen from Lexcorp, it could withstand, and deflect, kryptonian heat blasts. Theoretically anyway.
"I'll check in when I can. Maybe see if I can get some support."
"Heh, if you can get Batman to be civil with me I'll really curl your toes."
I hope you all enjoy this new story and yes, I am still working on Scion of the reaper. As well as The Fighting Wolf, The Human Instrumentality Crysis, and What Do You See, along with this I have a Star Wars fic planned as well. However uploads will be slow until I get some sort of a break from classes. Anyways chapter 11 of Scion of the Reaper should be up within the next week. Read and Review si vous plaít.