Sora Gaiden
Chapter Two: Decisions Pt. 2
Cadmus Labs/ Washington D.C/ 12:56 a.m. /July 5, 2010
It had been a long time since Sora had to worry about anyone else. Since then, he had thought solely about himself for one reason. Connection with others gave him weaknesses.
He could teleport short distances to escape if the situation called for it. However, his abilities did not allow him to always reach a loved one in time, nor did it help them escape with him if they were not physically touching him. Given that he could not teleport in rapid succession like Deathstroke had hoped for, Sora had gained the small fear of the very situation he was in now.
Saving others.
Lily's death was a constant reminder that he could not always save the lives of his loved ones. It haunted him daily.
If he had had been faster…
If his powers did not take so long to recharge…
If he didn't have any friends to kill in the first place…
All of these were thoughts that plagued his mind constantly. Thus, he spent most of his time away from others and honing his abilities. This proved to solve two things. It helped him develop his teleporting abilities and it also stopped him from losing anyone else.
'I don't have anyone to lose.' Sora's subconsciously argued. 'But… Maybe it's better that way.'
Those thoughts in mind, the team searched for the stairs that would lead him to the first floor. Escape was now the only important thing for him to do.
Walking away, the teen bitterly recounted the last events. He was still unable to teleport in rapid succession. Not only that, but he still could only "step" to his katana. What he refers to as a "step" is teleporting in motion and appearing at a single spot. In other words, if he was running and teleported without the use of his sword, he would appear in another spot moving in the same direction. However, while using his "stepping" ability, he could be traveling in one direction- such as falling down the elevator shaft- and appear in another place without any previous motion. Deathstroke had begun his training so that Sora could focus his energy on certain objects and appear at their side so long as the object was within a thirty meter range. To this day, his sword was the only thing that Sora could do so without the upmost effort.
'Why am I reminding myself of my abilities?' Sora thought quietly as he walked up the stairs.
The teen remained quiet, mentally and verbally, afterwards. Once again, escape was the only necessity now and he could do so better without drawing attention to himself. He needed his thoughts off of Lily and his abilities. He just had to focus and-
"…" Or he had a way out until a large gray monstrosity would come crashing through the floor with Superboy in grasp. "Of course…"
"You!" Sora lazily glanced to his left, seeing Kid Flash, Robin, and Aqualad. It was Kid Flash who sped up in front of the swordsman, anger apparent even with his mask on. "You were just going to leave us?! What's your deal?! Who are you?!"
Sora glared at the redhead. "I don't have to answer to-"
"Look out!" Robin's warnings were too late as Superboy's body crashed into the two, the three tumbling on the floor towards Robin and Aqualad.
After coming to a stop, Sora heard a growl escape Superboy's body and automatically agreed with its meaning. He did not like having someone thrown into him and he doubted Superboy enjoyed being slapped around like a rag doll.
Standing up, Sora glared at the large beast.
"We have to take that thing down," Robin announced. "Any ideas?"
"I have one! Argh!" With a feral shout, Superboy charged for the mutated man.
"Of course that's his plan," mutters the Boy Wonder. The black haired teen then looks at the other three to his right. "Anyone else have a better plan?"
"At the moment," Aqualad spoke, water-made blades forming in his hands. "My only plan is making sure Superboy isn't killed by this… Blockbuster project."
Sora had no idea what "Blockbuster project" meant but he knew that his only way of leaving in one piece was to beat this large thing; kill if necessary. This put things into a new perspective where escaping wasn't the major goal, surviving was.
Apparently, Kid Flash had those same thoughts as he zoomed for the large creature in the room. Sora was seconds from moving after him but a hand on his shoulder stopped him.
"If you can," Robin commented in a firm voice. "Don't kill him. Any of them."
Sora gives Robin a nod before his eyes caught the sight of Kid Flash soaring uncontrollably their way. Grabbing Robin, Sora teleported the two a meter in front of them, dodging Kid Flash's toppling body in the process.
"That…" Robin panted. "That was different."
Sora ignored the boy and ran for the beast battling Aqualad and Superboy. His sword was clutched tightly in his right hand as he picked his spot. Oddly enough, being assassin sometimes meant how not to kill your target. One learned how to fatally wound a person without ending said victim's life.
This was how interrogations worked.
With Superboy and Aqualad keeping the grotesque being occupied, Sora was able to make a solid cut across the calf of the transformed scientist's left leg. The swordsman was expecting to gain his target's attention now, however he was not expecting the reaction to be so sudden. A swift backhand knocked Sora backwards, his sword leaving his hand before he hit the ground.
Sora's small distraction did prove good enough for Superboy to land a solid punch on Blockbuster's jaw, forcing the large mutated man to stumble back into a support beam of the building. Aqualad soon came into the mix, knocking Blockbuster through the concrete structure with a large sledge hammer of water.
Growling, Blockbuster quickly got back up to his feet and recklessly charged for Aqualad. An evasive roll took Aqualad out of harm's way and allowed Blockbuster to run into another column.
"Hey KF! Over here!" Robin called out.
Sora ignored the yellow-clad speedster as he raced over to Robin while he grouped with Aqualad.
"I take it that you don't have anyway of stopping him, do you?" Aqualad asked the teen swordsman.
"No." Sora answered. "Taking out his legs seems harder than I thought. His muscles are ten-times denser than the average man."
Aqualad nods. "And he apparently takes little to no damage from our physical attacks. We have to try something different."
"What do you suggest then?" Sora asked.
"I believe Robin has a plan," Sora looked over to see the Boy Wonder and Kid Flash murmuring amongst themselves. "Which means that you, I, and Superboy will have to distract him until that plan unfolds."
"Do you really trust Robin's decision making?" questioned Sora.
"At the moment, any plan is a better plan." Kaldur replied for dashing off to help Superboy.
Sora stood still for a moment while Kaldur and Superboy currently battled the mutated monster. The swordsman glanced over to see Robin pointing at something, Kid Flash nodding in consent. His black eyes then turned towards the exit, still within sight. It was still an option.
'No. That's what he would do.' Sora thought as he turned his attention back to Kaldur and Superboy. 'Now how to cut this thing down to size?'
"Hey," the voice of Robin caught the swordsman's ear. "I have a plan, but I'll need your help. Do you think you can get Kid Flash out of the way before said plan potentially kills him?" The question had Sora blink in astonishment while Robin just gave him a stoic expression. "Come on. Time's wasting."
"Yeah." Sora answered.
"Good, now…"
As Robin explained his plan, Sora mentally pictured the play-by-play in his head while keeping an eye on the battle between the Superboy and Blockbuster. Kid Flash was currently speaking to Aqualad, most likely revealing the plan to him, which left the progeny of Superman to battle the monstrosity alone.
"Got it?" Robin's question was met by a nod. "Great. Now, stay whelmed and let's do this."
"'Whelmed?'" Sora echoed, his attention solely on the shorter boy next to him.
"Worry about that later. Let's go."
Sora made his move for his sword, running towards it instead of teleporting. After grabbing it, he dashed for Blockbuster, eyes locked in on his target. The beast snarled at the incoming boy while sending Superboy away with a simple toss. Sora made no move to catch Superboy this time while closing in on Blockbuster.
The strike from Blockbuster was dodged this time with Sora successfully clear to swipe his blade against the back of the larger being. Once more, he barely made a cut into Blockbuster and was forced to teleport when a turning back-fist nearly knocked him into the next room. Reappearing a few meters away, Sora glared at the enraged Blockbuster.
"Hey!" he called. "Come and get me, you incredible bulk!"
Blockbuster ran for his target. Sora timed his next move carefully, tossing his sword towards Blockbuster. With great agility, Blockbuster sidestepped the blade without slowing down. However, when the mutated man went to tackled Sora through the column behind Sora, the boy's body vanished once more and allowed Blockbuster to stumble through the stone structure.
"Wow," Kid Flash commented, making Blockbuster aware of the speedster. "I've seen faster drops of chilled molasses than that."
Growling, Blockbuster charged at Kid Flash. The redhead also waited for the last moment to effectively dodge the blow, another column being destroyed while Kid Flash zoomed to another one.
"Missed me!" Blockbuster went at him again, missing again. "Too slow!" Another in vain attempt followed. "Seriously, are you even trying?"
Sora glanced over to see Superboy and Aqualad knocking a column down each while Robin chalked an X on the floor. A second later, Robin looked up at Sora and gave him a nod, one that Sora returned before looking over at Kid Flash.
The redhead speedster zoomed towards the spot Robin was previously at, standing directly on top of the marker as water spilled on the floor around him.
"Alright, this time, I'll close my eyes." Kid Flash said as he covered his eyes. "Bet you still can't hit me."
Now Sora dropped his blade and ran towards Kid Flash, trying to beat the large Blockbuster to the speedster. If he could repeatedly teleport in quick succession as Robin had asked, then this would be easier.
…And maybe those he lost wouldn't be gone…
"Dude, anytime now!" Kid Flash called out as Blockbuster pounced for him. "Dude!"
Sora dove forward and tackled Kid Flash before the two vanished, appearing next to Sora's discarded blade. Meanwhile, Aqualad sent a charge of electricity through the water on the floor, electrocuting the monstrosity as Robin gave the signal.
"Move!"
Sora dashed off with Kid Flash, Aqualad hot on their heels. Their target was the exit as explosives went off. With the building collapsing on him, Sora realized that he had to escape this time. His thirst for vengeance would not end due to a botched idea.
"Get down!" Sora heard Superboy call out before the clone covered him and Kid Flash.
The loud rumbling noise of the demolition lasted for all of two minutes and then silence. The smoke could be seen just as clearly as the fire was only a few hours earlier. There were no signs of life in the rubble yet, until a large piece was thrown aside, Superboy and Aqualad rising.
"We… We did it…" Aqualad panted.
"Was there ever any doubt?" an exhausted Robin replied before holding his hand in the air. Kid Flash exchanged high-fives with the Boy Wonder, only for the two to recoil in pain.
"Wait," Aqualad said, his eyes searching the ruins around him. "Where is the other guy?"
The four boys looked around, unable to find Sora. Injured, they began to dig through the debris, fearing the very worse as they ignored the knocked-out mutated Dr. Desmond under several large slabs. So caught up in their search, they were unprepared for the arrival of their mentors.
"This is so not whelming…" Robin muttered. "We are dead…"
The arriving Justice Leaguers looked around the destruction. No one said anything as Superboy cautiously made his way to Superman.
"Is that what I think it is?" Batman asked.
Kid Flash shook his head. "He doesn't like to be called 'it'."
The Dark Knight glared at the speedster.
"Talk. Now."
Sora's Apartment/ Metropolis/ 11:20 a.m. /July 5, 2010
His body ached but not to the extent that it probably should have. He has miscalculated his last jump and wounded up barely making it out of the demolition zone. The swordsman was still hit by the force of the collapse, stumbling forward into the street before being able to teleport away before someone got a good description of him.
Two train rides later, he was comfortably lying on the mattress in his bedroom, praying to get some more sleep. However, he currently could not.
'Someone wanted me to go to that lab last night.' Sora thought quietly. 'There's only one man who could have done that… Slade.'
It only made sense in his vengeful mind. His former mentor- his captor- was out to either gain some sort of control over him or kill him. Both of those scenarios were unfavorable to Sora so he lied quietly in his rundown apartment in Suicide Slum (Southside Metropolis), thinking of how to avoid that situation again.
'First, no more missions over the phone.'he noted before a knock came on his front door. 'Damn it.'
Rising, the teen walked barefooted towards the door, making sure he memorized where his sword was just incase he had to fight or escape.
"Yeah… What?" he opened the door to see no one. Frowning, he turned on his heels, only to see Batman standing in his living room. "…"
"Sora Takashi," Batman stated. "We need to talk."
Author's Notes: Finally! Here is chapter 2 to SG. As always, thanks for reading. Working on the third chapter to get it out as soon as possible, as well as finishing up TMoaH's next chapter. Some more backstory will happen next chapter but until then, leave a PM or review for any thoughts, comments, or questions and I'll answer when I can. Peace.
