Us Vs Them

By: Malaizjan P.J. Shultz

Author's Note: This first scene was at the end of The Next Water Mission. But it lacked something…and so Reina and I traded scenes so make sure you reread the end of chapter 11and get ready for the Light's return… This first scene was originally written by Reina. I just altered it…

On Watchtower…12 hours later…

After making sure Orin was strong enough to move around, Kaldur and Garth suggested that he see Queen Mera to make sure that Molly's healing was successful. Areina sat by her father's bed, since Damian said it took about 12 hours for Roy to regain the energy that The Hand had drained away. After all that she had been through, the second generation fire controller had fallen asleep in her chair at her father's side.

Roy started to wake up, and his moans awoke Areina. She reached for her father's hand. "Dad?" she said, rubbing the sleep out of her eyes.

"Hey Stripes," he yawned. "… So I guess The Hand got away?" Roy asked as he sat up slowly.

"According to Damian and Koriand'r…yea he did, after draining your energy," Areina said.

"I didn't even hear or see him sneak up behind me…" Roy said as he looked mad that a villain got the best of him.

"It's alright dad; mom and I went after him. He's in jail….at least for now," A new voice said.

"Thanks Vincent," Roy said as he watched his only son walk up beside Areina.

"Dad; the Light reformed and Uncle Dick thinks that The Master is in charge of it this time," Areina stated.

"Don't they always?" Roy said rhetorically. "Anything else I should know?"

"The original team agreed that if the Master is leading this Light; then Serenity is his main target…and any reinforcements she may have," Vincent said, having been told of what happened in the meeting. "That means Rini and the twins are in danger." Archeron growled the last sentence, for he loved his nephews…and his tiny niece.

"Jason actually helped them out a lot. While he was trying to stay out of Manta's sight, he overheard a conversation between Queen Bee and a villain that Static knows named Ebon. Right now the twins seem to be their main target, but don't worry, they're always guarded," Areina added.

"So it's pretty much the Reach Apocalypse all over again." Roy groaned, remembering what happened in 2016. "Wait-isn't Meygan in danger too?"

"When is my big sister never in danger?" Vincent asked.

"Good point."

"It's not going to be that bad. We're going to stop them before it goes that far," Areina told her father. "Promise."

"I know you guys will…and I'm going to help however I can," Roy said as he swung his legs over the edge of the bed to leave. Areina was there to stop him.

"You can't leave. Not until Molly gives you a clean bill of health," Vincent told his dad.

"Can't she do that at home?" Roy asked his son.

"Okay; I'll let Uncle Dick know that you're awake. I've got to go see the boys., Areina said as she got up from the chair. "And you can't go anywhere until Molly sees you."

Roy pouted but Areina merely folded her arms. "Fine, give them a hug for me," Roy said as he pulled both of his kids into a hug.

"I will."

"I need to go check on Meygan and Iesha..." Vincent said.

"That needs to wait Vincent!" Syfon, Gear's son came onto the computer screen in the Infirmary. "Sorry I interrupted but Yami was just seen in Star City. Red Arrow's out of commission so…"

"I'm awake!" Roy protested.

Areina glared at her dad and he wisely shut up.

"Iesha and Meygan can wait. What about Kid Flash?" Archeron asked.

"He was there but Speed Racer came out of no-where and now he's chasing him. Someone needs to get Yami. You know Star City as well as your dad so…"

"He's mine." Archeron looked back at his dad. "I got it dad."

Roy looked at Areina and she looked ready to restrain him. "Fine. Just watch yourself."

"I will dad. Syfon, Boom Tube me to Yami's location."

"Got it." A Boom Tube appeared instantly.

With that, the small family headed out to return to Earth.

One hour later…

Vincent threw himself up against the brick wall of the old Queen Industries warehouse, panting as he counted how many arrows he had left.

7.

He knew his chances against the new LOD were pretty much ZERO.

Archeron went to Star City because Kid Flash was chasing Speed Racer, and his dad was recovering from The Hand when he saw Yami was seen breaking into a bank and fleeing with 7 bags of cash. He followed him to the abandoned part of Star City, a 5-block radius that was due for demolition the following week. Yami had lured him there and then a dome fell over the entire 5 block radius, trapping him with Yami.

Then Dymond, Manta and Ebon showed up to play with him too.

Four on one sucked.

For the moment, he took a breather, pressing his hand against a cut over his left eye. He hoped his distress call got through to Watchtower.

Vincent heard footsteps and his heart sped up in fear. He was all alone, and he was afraid to use his bond to borrow Meygan's powers to buy him some time. He needed a place to hide and hide fast.

In Bludhaven...

Brian staggered into his room via boom tube, his costume torn and him holding his shoulder. He was exhausted and hungry, neither one a good thing. Brian had limped to his bed and his body protested. He truly wanted to get downstairs but his eyes drifted close...He hated Speed Racer…

Meygan Greyson hung up her phone, the last detail for Iesha's 3rd Birthday done.

She sat at the table as sudden stab of fear hit her as a wave of intense emotion. She closed her eyes and sought out where it came from.

There were flashes of memory.

A dome.

The new LOD.

Archeron.

"Vincent." Meygan stood up and went to a hidden alcove in her den, and she pulled out her costume.

It looked like Rave was coming out of retirement.

The original Watchtower

Most of the older heroes were out on missions so the giant space station was almost empty; and even Roy got to go home.

At the moment, only Olivia, Mathen and Billy (Siren, Nightwing II and Syfon) were there and Syfon was fixing a comp issue that arose 7 hours ago. Somehow, a virus had infiltrated their systems. As a precaution, the teams-Alpha and what remained of Omega Squad-were in teams of 2.

Mathen sat in the chair directly in front of the main screen with the snow. Olivia straddled his lap…and they were kissing.

It was then that Syfon came walking in with a report. "Hey guys, this just came in from...OH COME ON!"

Mathen had taken things slow with Green Arrow's daughter for three years, and just before Syfon walked in on then, he was ready to make a move.

Olivia moved away from Mathen, giggling.

"What's up?" Mathen said breathlessly.

"It'll be another hour before we're up. Start calling the teams back." Syfon saw how disappointed he looked. "You can wait...oh, 45minutes before doing that." With that, Syfon left the pair to return to...whatever.

Olivia grinned and climbed back on his lap. "45 Minutes."

"Gee, what can we do in that time...?" Mathen teased.

Olivia nodded. She was ready. She got up and pulled him to his feet. "We might need more than that..."

Mathen was shocked. Olivia had never acted so bold before. "Are you sure?"

"Yeah. I am."

Mathen then picked her up into his arms and sought out his room.

Bludhaven

The toddlers were all over Conner and M'gann's home but young Iesha rushed home to grab two slabs of ribs. She was hungry. The kids were spending a night, even 2 month old Reilie Kent, the newest addition to their growing family.

Iesha was ready to rush back out when she saw a few drops of blood on the floor of the kitchen. Feeling brave, she left the ribs on the table and followed the trail up the steps, but not before grabbing eight energy bars from the counter top.

Slowly she went, the nervous three year old didn't know what to expect.

Iesha saw the trail end at her brother's room. She knocked on the door. "Brian?"

She opened it...and screamed. LOUDLY.

Brian was bleeding on the floor.

She ran to him. "Brian?! BRIAN?!" she cried, shaking him hard.

"St...stop..." he moaned.

"You're hurt!" Iesha said. Iesha then took her half eaten energy bar and waved it under his nose.

"Yeah..." He felt like crap at the moment.

"Why not call mommy and daddy?"

Brian smelled the food and took a bite from her bar. He chewed slowly. "Need food."

"Ok!" Iesha let him chew as she unwrapped the next one and held it to his mouth.

Brian then took the offered food in two bites. With that little bit of restored energy, he sat up against his bed.

Iesha had another one ready. "You need help," Iesha said as she frowned.

"Yeah." He took the next bar, ate it and reached for his comm. "Code red...Mom...Dad... they got Vincent..." he got out.

Iesha was shocked; her other brother was in trouble?!

"Brian! You alright!" Bart asked, responding first.

"Need help. Need food. Get mom and dad..." Brian said; feeling tired.

"Here." Iesha unwrapped two bars for him.

He took them both. "Thanks sis."

There was a swoosh and Bart Allen was there at his side. Brian didn't even hear the Boom Tube.

Iesha hugged her cousin Bart.

"Wow, you're sure feeling the mode," Bart said as he released Iesha and saw Brian.

"Yeah..." Brian felt better as a few minor injuries were healing.

Bart hit his comm. "This is Bart. This is a code red emergency. Kid Flash is down. I repeat, Kid Flash is down!"

Boom Tubes were popping in the West home in seconds as Brian was fed energy bars by his sister.

Wally and Artemis were in his doorway in a second. Both were at Brian's side.

"Dad...Mom..." he said.

"Brian...where's Vincent?" Artemis asked, trying to stay calm.

"The...LOD. Speed Racer was part of the trap…"

"No..." Roy was at his door next. He looked angry.

"They...used me to get Vincent…Speed Racer...he got faster. But there was two...Yellow costume...looked pissed. Kept calling me you dad," Brian explained.

"Doc Zoom," Bart answered.

"Professor Zoom...this just got personal," Wally said as he glared.

"Call Dick, Damian and Jason," Roy said. "I got Kori." Roy walked away from the room as Blue Beetle IV and Shock ran up the steps.

Back in the domed part of Star City...

Vincent got lucky. He found one of his dad's and GA's safe houses and he fell in before whoever's footsteps got to him. He waited a few minutes before flipping on the lights.

It was a small room, but it had arrows in it. Vincent made his way to them and inspected them. They weren't his arrows but he'd take them any day.

He looked around the place and saw the first aid kit. He went to it and fixed himself up. He was so screwed. 20 more arrows wouldn't going to make a difference unless he could figure out how to get out.

Just inside the dome...

"Find that hero and roast him. That Master guy wants him for bait...and we can rough him up," Ebon told the small team. "Yami, you patrol the dome. Let me know if more heroes show. Manta, you and Dymond go find him."

The three nodded at him.

"Ok then spread out!" Ebon ordered.

Watchtower

Syfon got the comp working just as Boom Tubes popped open and Wally and Bart came through first, carrying Brian between them. "Syfon, call Mathen! Vincent needs help!" Wally cried.

"Got it." Syfon saw that the pair were gone. He knew where they went. Syfon was hoping he wouldn't interrupt Mathen and Olivia. "Mathen, I need you and Olivia in Med Bay, Vincent's in trouble."

There was a curse then, "We're there," Olivia said.

"What do you mean-"

The comm cut out.

Syfon shook his head. "I swear...I don't get couples." He ran off to meet the others in Med Bay.

An hour later…

Roy was pacing as Dick, Jason and Kori showed up, with Damian just minutes behind them. Artemis was worried and she tried not to be.

"How's Brian?" Jason asked.

"Better. Fed and healing," Roy answered. "Syfon located Vincent. He's still in Star City."

"Then we must go," Kori told Roy.

"There's a problem..."

"Such as?" Dick asked.

"Zoom's here," Wally said as he walked in.

"Not only that Wal, according to the scans, there's a dome around the area that Vincent's signal is coming from." Roy was mad. He should've gone with him.

"Great!" Dick said. "Call Max, Tim and Richie. We need them to break it."

"Already called dad, he's on his way," Syfon said as he walked into the room.

"So is Tim," Roy added. "Max is in the middle of a mission."

"I'll help dad and Tim," Syfon stated.

"Tell Bruce we need her ASAP." Jason noted how...calm Roy was. That was never a good thing.

"He said he'll send her."

"Good. And tell Terry we'll send some help with patrolling Neo Gotham tonight since we're taking Max and Damian. Red Robin will go."

Artemis was shaking. Her son was in trouble, and who knows what kind of injuries he had if Brian was hurt like this.

Wally went to her and held her. "It's going to be ok, Arty. Vincent's tough."

It was then that Areina had arrived, and EVERYONE could tell she was mad. "When are we going?" The fire controller asked.

"Areina...relax," Roy said to his daughter. "There's a dome around his locale. We can't get in. Dick called in all the techies for help."

Areina heated up even more in rage. "The LOD is behind this, isn't it?"

"Yeah Stripes….they are."

"Um…Where's the rest of the team?" Areina asked, trying to stay calm.

Back inside the dome...

Meygan reached out with her hands and phased herself through the dome. She immediately felt the drain of her magic as soon as she got to the other side. She fell to her knees to catch her breath before pushing to her feet to find Archeron. She looked around as she went, watching for him or any bad guy. She saw shadows ahead of her so she veered right and ran down the alley. She kept running to a fire escape and leaped up to grab the lowest rung from the drop ladder.

Meygan pulled herself up and made her way to the top of the building in record time. She needed to see what she was dealing with. At the top of the building, Meygan went to the edge and peered over it. She looked as far as she could down each part of the street and saw Yami doing a perimeter patrol. So she went to the other side of the roof top and saw that Ebon was looking for someone.

She knew that someone had to be Vincent.

She backed away slowly and waited until she felt safe enough to fly over to the next roof top. Which she did 10 minutes later.

Meygan heard a commotion as she leaped from rooftop to rooftop, after checking to be sure that no one was in between the buildings. She forced herself to go faster-she had a sinking feeling…

Vincent backed up against the dome, Manta and Dymond advancing on either side of him.

His bow was lowered, his eyes darting back and forth, watching them. Archeron was cornered and he planned to go out fighting. His thigh was killing him but he knew he couldn't let it stop him now.

Dymond was in her hardened skin form, sparkling in the night sky. She eyed the hero and smiled. The sparkling villainess rushed him, but a shadow raven appeared on Vincent's left and Rave appeared. She threw something at Dymond.

It exploded on contact, throwing her back.

A pair of red eye beams exited from Meygan's front, near her right hip.

There was a gasp from her as Manta laughed at the sound.

Vincent fired his arrow.

Another pair of red eye beams disintegrated the projectile before it hit him.

Meygan grabbed Vincent in her arms and flew away, drops of blood falling as she flew.

"Looks like we got another playmate," Manta said to Dymond.

"And I like her. She's a fighter." Dymond rubbed her hands together. "We better let Ebon know. He hates being surprised."

Meygan and Vincent got to another hidden safe house. Vincent helped Meygan to the cot. She laid on it, wincing in pain. "You're hurt." Ignoring his own pain, he grabbed a first aid kit and went to stop the bleeding above Meygan's right hip.

"Yeah. No duh!" Meygan hissed when Vincent push a patch on her wound.

"But...thanks...for coming to get me."

"This whole thing was a set up." Meygan tried to sit up but Vincent didn't let her.

"How so...?"

"Brian was allowed to get help. Just so I would come. I heard Ebon talking to the Master before I found you. He wants me."

"So he's got a hard on for you. You can wipe the floor with him," Vincent said confidently.

"Not this time, little brother. But we need to talk to your dad. We can't stay here for a long period of time." Meygan closed her eyes. She was so tired. This whole scenario reminded her of another time…

Meygan grabbed Vincent and teleported themselves to her dad's old JL room. She panted. She rarely used her teleporting power and to use it to move herself and Vincent wore her down. She sat at her father's old tablet and punched in a series of codes. "Like I said, I know who your dad is."

"I hope you didn't just say that because you didn't want me to beat Slade."

"I think you're the reason he's here."

"What!?" 12 year old Vincent said.

Meygan sighed. "I think he knows that your Red Arrow's son."

"I'm what?! That's crazy!"

Meygan got to the file and showed him his DNA sample and how it linked to his parents. "I overheard Aunt Artemis when I was five...she said that Roy Harper was your dad."

Vincent was floored. He sat down with the tablet in his hands, shaking. "I...I am?"

"He didn't know about you. I'm sorry."

"I'm...Red Arrow's kid..."

Meygan sat next to Vincent. "I'm sorry." She said again.

"All these years...I thought Jackson was my dad. I thought he could care less. And now...my dad died...and he didn't know..."

Meygan let Vincent talk. He needed to. She laid one hell of a secret on him.

"I..." A single tear fell. "I'm Red Arrow's son...his prodigy..." Another tear fell.

Meygan took the tablet from Vincent. "I'm sorry..." she whispered.

"My dad died...and I never knew..."

More tears fell from his eyes.

Meygan took Vincent into her arms and he broke down crying.

A tear leaked out of Meygan's closed eye.

Vincent was really worried as she hissed when she moved her bruised body. He eyed the lone surveillance camera.

Manta was close to the entrance to this safe house. The villain looked uncertain.

Archeron eyed the comm… He hoped it worked…

5 minutes later, at Watchtower…

Roy heard his comm link crackle to life. He reached up to touch it. "Hello?"

"Dad?"

"Vincent! You okay?!" he asked frantically.

"Yeah. My leg hurts but Meygan's here. She rescued me. But her side...Manta got her."

Roy swore. He saw Dick's face. "Meygan's with him. But she got hurt," he repeated.

Dick swore.

"Listen Vincent, you two need to get out of there."

"We can't."

"Why?"

"We tried. The shield kept adjusting to Meygan's phasing ability."

"Have her use her magic," Roy told his son.

"The shield drained her magic. She can't. But she said this was a set up. Brian getting hurt, me in this dome... the Master wants to fight her."

Roy looked at Dick. "This whole thing was a set up. The Master wants Meygan."

Dick was livid. "Tell him to sign off! Call back when she's awake." She was so going to hear it from him.

Roy relayed the message.

"Will do. Tell mom I'm ok. And tell her and Areina not to worry. Meygan will protect me." Then Vincent hung up.

"What did he say?!" Areina asked anxiously, running in the command center.

"He said not to worry. Meygan would protect him," Roy told his daughter.

"I hate it when she runs off to save him. She could've told me!"

"Areina…" Roy said. "You're a mom now."

"And so is she," Areina countered.

12 Year old Vincent Crock was cornered.

200 Slade Bots had him in a dead end. He had his arrow aimed at them. He kept eyeing the ceiling, waiting for the right moment.

He was scared…and it showed on his face.

As the bots moved forward, Vincent fired at the ceiling, causing an explosion.

The Bots got blown back.

The backlash of flames were coming right at him.

His eyed widened and the flames were reflected in them.

He screwed himself.

A pair of arms came up out of the floor. Then half of Meygan's body did.

Still phased, she grabbed Vincent and pulled him through the floor and away from the flames.

A floor below where he was, he pulled away from Meygan as soon as she was solid again. "I had it!" he told her arrogantly.

"Yeah, and you would be dead by now," Meygan retorted.

"So?"

Meygan sighed in frustration. "Where are you going now?"

"To deal with Slade."

"No! We need a plan!" she cried.

"I have one. Stop hiding!" Vincent went down the hall.

"Vincent! Don't go!"

"Don't...go..." Meygan tossed her head for a minute. She then woke with a start and sat up fast.

Vincent stalled her. "It's ok. You were sleeping."

"Oh." Meygan wiped her brow. "Was I...sweating?"

"Yeah. A fever, but it broke 5 minutes ago. Rest up. It looks like Manta and that Dymond girl stopped looking for us." Vincent pointed to a surveillance screen that was located just 10 feet from the safe house.

"No, we should move."

"They can't find us. Just sleep." Vincent looked confident as he pushed Meygan down on the cot.

"Fine." Meygan turned on her left side carefully and closed her eyes again.

Vincent glanced back at the screen. They did have to move soon. But she needed to rest. He knew that if they stayed for too long, they would find them. He looked back at Meygan. She had been protecting him since he was 12-when Slade invaded Watchtower.

It was time he protected her.