At the edge of the crowd, Artemis Crock leans against a nearby building, watching the crowd and looking (she assumes) pretty stupid in a dark blue pantsuit.
"The Conference for International Metahuman Rights is taking place at the UN Headquarters in New York City this Friday," Batman said, gesturing to the holographic screen. Six pairs of eyes watched intently as various images popped up, tinged green by the monitor. "Due to pressure from many citizens and humanitarian groups, including Amnesty International, various world leaders are meeting to discuss rights of marginalized groups, particularly metahumans."
"Metahumans are oppressed?" Miss Martian asked, sounding slightly alarmed.
"In some countries, yeah," Robin explained. "In most developed nations, including the States, metahumans have the same rights as anyone. But in other places there are laws that basically force them to go into hiding."
"Yeah, it seems that a lot of people are less than friendly towards those that don't wear colorful costumes," Wally added darkly. Miss Martian swallowed and stared at the floor, looking disturbed.
"The League has opted to avoid the Summit for political reasons," Batman continued, "But we need the Team to provide some extra security. We have intel that things may not go smoothly."
"A threat?" Robin asked.
"Yes. Specifically against this man," Batman gestured towards the screen at a picture of a middle-aged man with dark hair and eyes, flashing a politician's smile. "Ambassador Victor Ivanoff of Transia, an infamous anti-metahuman politician."
At the mention of his name, the Earth-native members of the team stiffened. Anyone who paid attention to the metahuman rights debate knew who this guy was. His crimes, depending on who you asked, ranged from spreading ignorant rumors to full blown genocide. He was famously involved in a scandal that involved the Transian government paying mercenaries to kill mutant civilians, though he managed to escape with no jail time or demotion. Some speculated that he was somehow blackmailing the President, Nicolai Russoff.
Basically, this guy sucked.
"Ambassador Ivanoff is speaking about the dangers that metahumans propose to national security. The League received intel that an assassination attempt will take place against him, though it's not clear when or how."
"Shadows?" Aqualad guessed.
"Possibly. However, given the nature of the threat, I believe the most likely suspect is a domestic terrorist group from Transia, a radical pro-metahuman group called the Brotherhood of Mutants. Their current membership is unknown, but their leader is known to be one Erik Magnus, known in his home country as Magneto. He is a metahuman with metal-shifting abilities, and is to be considered armed and extremely dangerous."
All things considered, Artemis still had to ask. Why the pantsuit. Artemis scowled down at herself. She got that she needed to blend in and look like any other security guard, but couldn't they have picked out something a little more her style? Besides, it was itchy and smelled like an old lady's closet and wasn't even that flattering.
I don't think it looks that bad, Artemis, a voice in her head said, girly and irritatingly chipper. You look very nice.
Artemis rolled her eyes. Thanks.
It is almost ten-thirty, Aqualad's voice said over the mental connection. Has anyone seen anything out of the ordinary?
Other than Artemis looking like she tried for once? Another voice snickered.
Artemis gritted her teeth. Shut it, Kid Mouth.
Why don't you make me?
Enough, Aqualad's voice cut in, calm and cool as water. Keep focused on the mission.
Artemis harrumphed and fiddled with her sleeves, grumbling. Her eyes slid over to the rally outside the doors. Large screens had been set up outside the building with the summit being projected live for everyone to watch. Some lady with a megaphone was shouting at the crowd about metahumans being dragged to jail or killed by angry mobs who didn't want them around.
It does kind of suck that we have to protect this guy, Artemis thought sullenly.
What do you mean? Superboy asked, sounding slightly confused.
I mean, this guy is corrupt. Seriously. He hates people who are different and tries to get thrown in jail or executed for no reason. If these people come after him for that, a part of me is tempted to let him face the music.
Artemis, came Aqualad's warning tone.
You know, came Kid Flash's voice, I'm kind of with her on this one. Artemis almost choked on her tongue. Kid Flash agree with something she said? Had Hell frozen over and she missed it? This guy is trash, Kid Flash added.
Regardless of our opinions of his moral standing, it is our mission to ensure the safety of everyone at this summit, Aqualad reminded. He sounded like he was scolding a child.
No, I know, I know, Kid Flash backpedaled. It just...it kind of sucks, that's all.
There was quiet for a minute or two. It was Robin who broke the silence. I think I saw something on the west side of the building, third floor. I'm going to check it out.
Don't attract any attention, Aqualad said.
Remember who you're talking to, Robin shot back, cackling his signature cackle.
They were quiet again. Artemis brooded, trying to look unapproachable to passersby. It wasn't hard. She'd had a lot of practice.
Then something changed. The chanting quieted, and a wave of murmurs and confused whispers fell over the crowd. Sensing something was off, Artemis's eyes snapped to the screens. Strangely, instead of showing the panel of world leaders, they now showed nothing but darkness. Although she hadn't been doing this long, Artemis knew better than to brush it off as an unstable connection. She shifted her briefcase in her hand, her senses on high alert.
Stand by, came Aqualad's order.
The picture on the screen changed again, lights flickering back on. The world leaders sat in their chairs, as before, but the room seemed emptier, somehow. Suddenly it hit Artemis. What had happened to all the security guards? The reporters and security guards that had filled the room before had vanished, leaving the majority of the room empty. The world leaders seemed to be just as confused, looking around and talking rapidly to each other, presumably asking what the hell was happening. Suddenly, the arms of the chairs extended like tentacles, wrapping around the wrists of the world leaders and trapping them there. There were screams and struggles, but they fell silent as a cloaked figure appeared from off camera, stepping into the plain view.
This is him. Get there now, Aqualad said.
They didn't have to be told twice.
Artemis opened the briefcase, pulling out her bow and flicking it open. She shrugged her quiver over her shoulders and began to run towards the building.
On the screen, the man pulled down his hood, revealing a middle-aged man wearing a red and purple helmet not unlike a roman soldier's. His weathered, hardened face peered out from under the helmet, piercing gray-green eyes staring at the camera with determination.
"Good evening, ladies and gentlemen of the world," Magneto greeted his audience in a thick central European accent. "And I would like to extend a special greeting to the individuals in this room with me, particularly our dear Ambassador Ivanoff." He smiled a terse, unhappy smile and shifted slightly so that the ambassador was visible to the camera. Recognition flickered in Ivanoff's eyes, and he shouted something and began struggling harder. Magneto flicked his wrist, causing a metal microphone to spring off the desk before him and coil like a snake around Ivanoff's throat, cutting off his cries by strangling him. Magneto calmly turned back to the camera, obscuring Ivanoff's wheezing form. "This man has encouraged the oppression and senseless murder of thousands of his own citizens. Discrimination and ignorance thrive in my country because of him. And you were all going to sit and listen to him."
Artemis vaulted over the dividers, pushing her way through the crowd that was staring, transfixed, at the screens. "Move!" She yelled, elbowing people out of the way.
"My followers and I have spent years, decades trying to bring the plight of my people to light," Magneto continued. "And yet nothing changes. It seems that metahumans are only important when they are running around in their costumes and capes, saving you from problems that you more than often create for yourselves. Until now. Now we will rise, destroy this world and from the ashes build a new one. It is as I have always warned...the day of homo superior will come, and it will have no mercy. So I ask you," Magneto shifted, a wicked smile curling at his lips, "Do I have your attention now?"
Suddenly, something in the room changed. There was a flash of light, and suddenly the entire room was covered in smoke. Magneto was completely obscured by the fumes, coughing violently. There was a lot of jostling, but nobody could see anything that was going on. Something hit the camera, and the screen went black.
Just then, a sound not unlike a dump truck being thrown through a wall by a super strong alien rang out through the night (the fact that Artemis knew exactly what that sounded like couldn't even begin to describe how weird her life was). Suddenly, a banged-up security van smashed through the wall in the left side of the building, landing with a loud bang on the concrete and sending people scattering in all directions. The police officers stationed around the building swarmed on it just as the flames started to leak out of the van. A police officer pulled someone out. A security guard, by the looks of it. Unconscious.
So that's where they went.
Artemis saw Aqualad, who had been hanging around that side of the building, run forward to assist with putting out the fire. He turned his head, and they locked eyes briefly. She understood immediately. Go.
Artemis dodged a puppy-sized chunk of building as she sprinted up the steps towards the front door. The security stationed there had dispersed. She grabbed an arrow from her quiver and shot it at the door, hitting it square in the lock. The arrow's tip glowed, and the lock melted away. Artemis kicked the door open and hurtled inside.
What's the plan? Artemis thought loudly as she ran down the hallways.
She didn't have time to get a reply before Superboy was thrown through a nearby wall, missing her by inches. She skidded to a stop in time to see him collide with the wall before falling to all fours with a pained grunt. Artemis grabbed another arrow and turned her head, eyes searching for her teammate's assail-holy Mother, was this guy fat.
Artemis could only stare as this giant, globular man lumbered towards them, crashing through the brick walls easily as tearing through wrapping paper. He was massive. His body tilted a little from side to side as he walked, his countless rolls of fat rippling with each step. His shorts and too-small muscle shirt clung to his red, blotchy skin. The shirt wasn't able to fully contain his stomach, so his belly button protruded out in full view, just as red and bulbous as the rest of him. The man's double chin was so large that it completely obscured his neck from view, giving his head the appearance of just jutting out of his shoulders. His beady eyes and tiny, puckered mouth were lit up with a stupid smile, and as he neared them he gave a loud chuckle not unlike the giggling of a giant baby.
"Duh-huh-huh-huh!" He giggled, smashing through the last wall. Artemis got a hold of herself and loosed the arrow, aimed at the ground just in front of his feet. It exploded into a foamy blob, sticking to elephant-guy's feet. The guy made a frustrated noise and lifted his feet, trying to free them from the sticky mess. He gave an angry cry and flailed his arm out, grazing Artemis and sending her tumbling. "DUH-HUH-HUH!" He laughed, pointing at her as she struggled to her feet, winded.
There was a roar of fury, and the giant dude turned just in time for Superboy's fist to collide with his fleshy face. To Superboy's shock, he didn't teeter back, but stayed perfectly grounded. Superboy tried again, throwing himself with all his might at his opponent. The big guy didn't even budge. Now it was Artemis's turn to be shocked. Getting hit by an angry Superboy was like getting hit by a freight train. What was this guy made of?
Blob guy (I'm just gonna call him Blob, Artemis thought), retaliated, catching Superboy's fist as he wound up for another punch and hitting him against the ceiling before flinging him like a rag doll across the room. Superboy smacked into the wall (again) before collapsing to the ground. Blob struggled against the hardened foam, kicking his feet out so that cracks appeared along the sides of the mess. The foam suddenly shattered, and Blob laughed as he stomped his now-free elephant feet over to Superboy. He stooped down to pick Superboy up, treating Artemis to a thoroughly-unwanted view of his plumber's crack, and straightened, holding Superboy by the scruff of his neck. Superboy managed to come to his senses in time to lift with his abdominal muscles and bring his feet up, kicking Blob in the neck. Neck-ish, Artemis couldn't really tell. Apparently, Superboy's foot had reached Blob's trachea underneath all that fat. Blob recoiled, gagging, and dropped Superboy to the ground. Superboy braced himself for another attack before Blob stopped short. The big lug stumbled a little, looking dazed, before standing ramrod straight and screaming. There was a smell of burning flesh and hair. Sparks danced around his form before he collapsed forwards, revealing no less than three taser arrows lodged in one of his back folds.
"You okay?" Artemis called, running over to him.
"Fine," Superboy snapped, wiping a trickle of blood away from his bottom lip.
I need backup, Robin's voice said suddenly, over the psychic link. Conference room, third floor. ASAP!
Artemis and Superboy glanced at each other before rounding the corner and sprinting up the stairs.
Robin launched himself into a somersault mid-air, aiming a flying kick for Magneto's head. Magneto shot a hand out, willing one of the metal tables to come in between them. Robin realized this and changed his angle at just the right moment, using the table as a launching pad instead and flipping back to the ground. The smoke from Robin's smoke pellet had somewhat dispersed, at least enough that Magneto could see him.
"You're fast, boy. I'll give you that," Magneto said. He reached up, causing the metal lining of the lights to peel away from the ceiling and curl themselves into sharp spikes, before sending them flying at Robin. Robin dodged them easily with a couple flips.
"That the best you got?" He taunted.
Magneto sneered. "Enough of this nonsense. Toad!"
Robin's hands slid to his utility belt. He pulled out an explosive disk.
THWACK!
The disk was pulled out of his grip by something that wrapped around it. Something long, wet, and slimy. Robin turned to see a depressingly ugly little man in tights and a tunic spit it into his hands and hold it up triumphantly. "New toy!" He croaked in a raspy voice.
Magneto summoned large metal chair to rise into the air and hurled it at Robin, who ducked just in time. The table had bought the man (Toad, Robin guessed?) just enough time to leap forwards, flipping the cape over Robin's head. Robin wasn't hindered, detaching it almost instantly.
"Ye-OUCH!" Apparently Toad discovered the taser hidden in the cape. Miraculously, though, he stayed conscious, only dazed and slightly singed around the edges. Enhanced durability, Robin supposed.
Robin lunged at Toad, but was stopped dead in his tracks, being pulled back at the waist somehow. He felt himself be lifted into the air, and then the world became a blur as he was spun through the air like a human ceiling fan.
The belt. The metal tools in his belt.
Robin reached down and undid the buckle, freeing him from Magneto's grip but also sending him careening through the air.
Just then, the door opened in a blur of red and yellow. "You rang-WHOA!" Robin collided with Kid Flash and they were both sent tumbling out of the room.
"Grab Ivanoff!" Magneto ordered. Toad grinned.
"Yes, sir!" He bounded over to the desks and leapt on them, snickering as he went.
Just outside, Robin and Kid Flash came to a skidding stop, sprawled out next to each other on the floor. Kid Flash blinked up at the ceiling, trying to regain his bearings. "Gotta say," he said shakily, "I'm not a new fan of your new way of saying 'hello.'"
Robin shook his head, coming back to his senses. "The Toad guy! He's got one of my-"
A large explosion cut him off, proving his foresight correct. Robin and Kid Flash turned their faces away from the heat, their hair whipping around in the wind. "KF! Get the people out of the room!" Robin shouted.
"On it," Kid Flash responded, zipping into the room in a blur.
What happened? Aqualad demanded. Is anyone hurt?
We don't know yet, Robin answered, but Magneto and one of his guys are attempting to escape with Ivanoff.
We shall have to cut them off then, Aqualad decided. Robin, meet me at the West entrance. Miss Martian, we will need your assistance.
Actually, I'm a little busy at the moment, Miss Martian cut in. I'm at the-
There was a muffled cry, and then silence.
M'gann? M'gann!
Superboy froze in his spot. Artemis was a few steps in front of him by the time she realized he had stopped, and she turned around.
"What?!" She cried. "Superboy, let's go!"
Superboy shook his head. "I'm finding M'gann." He took off in the opposite direction, leaping down the stairs.
"Oh, for the love of- fine!" Whatever. Artemis turned around and kept running.
Suddenly, she heard something to her left. Artemis turned just in time to see this blue blur coming at her at breakneck speed. A...person, she realized as he came closer. She saw his eyes widen, realizing what was about to happen. And then Artemis felt herself be knocked off her feet and sent spinning and rolling along the ground, striking limbs and heads with the other person before skidding to a stop, with him sprawled out on top of her.
Artemis groaned, blinking her eyes blearily. That really hurt. Everything ached, but her head hurt the worst. She hoped to God she didn't have a concussion.
The kid didn't seem to be much better, propping himself up unsteadily on all fours and nursing what looked to be a nasty forming-bruise on his forehead. He looked down at her. They locked eyes.
Oh.
For a breathless second neither of them moved. Then the boy got up, attempting to climb over her. Artemis barely had a second to react by reaching up and grabbing his ankle, sending him crashing to the floor.
He twisted and kicked at her chest, which she had expected and dodged easily. What she hadn't expected was the hunting knife that he flicked out into his hand and swiped at her with. Artemis felt a sharp pain just above her gloveline and she reeled back. A cut, long but shallow, was leaking blood down her forearm.
Her recoil had bought him enough time to scramble to his feet and begin to move away. Artemis reacted. She grabbed her bow, which she had dropped a few feet away during the tumble, and fired an arrow in one fluid, practiced motion. The arrow's blunted tip collided with the ground a few feet in front of him and exploded on impact, forcing him to turn around. She saw his eyes flick to her bow, and suddenly he was a blur again, moving towards her. Artemis had time to fire one more arrow (missing him) before he was on her, grabbing the bow and attempting to yank it out of her hands. She pulled back. He pulled again. She pulled back, harder. He decided to change the game.
Using his speed, he twisted his body, forcing the bow down and pulling her into his side, where he brought up an elbow aimed for her nose. Had Artemis not been used to sparring with people with superpowers, he probably would have broken it. However, Artemis's muscle memory allowed her to react quickly enough to dodge it and let go, shooting one leg out and bringing it around to sweep his feet out from under him.
Huh, she thought fleetingly as she watched him fall on his butt. Never thought I would end up appreciating those sparring sessions with Kid Flash.
To his credit, the boy recovered quickly, tossing the bow away and standing up again. Artemis leapt at him, hoping to tackle him, but he was too quick. He turned and caught her over his shoulder, flipping her onto the ground. He dropped to his knees, straddling her and bringing the knife up. Artemis moved her head to the side just a fraction of a second before the knife came down, missing her by half an inch.
He'd been backed into a corner. Artemis would have to think fast.
She headbutted him in the face. He snapped back with a sharp curse in Transian. Artemis took advantage of the distraction by lifting her hips and twisting, flipping them over so she was the one pinning him to the ground. She grabbed his wrists and forced them back onto the ground, sending the knife clattering out of his hand.
"Gotcha," Artemis panted.
The boy glared up at her, breathing hard. "Bite me," he spat. In English.
Feeling satisfied at the victory, Artemis tried to tap into the mental link. I've got one of them in custody. I-
WHAM!
Artemis's thoughts were cut short as she found herself tumbling off him, pushed off by a piece of debris that had been hurled at her. She landed on her stomach, winded.
She looked up. A girl, about the same age as the guy, was helping him to his feet. The girl said in Transian, gesturing at Artemis. The boy shook his head and picked the girl up bridal-style, whisking them both away in a whirl.
Struggling to her feet, she took off in their direction.
A/N: Thank you for reading! If you liked it, let me know with a review!
Couple side notes: In this cross DC-Marvel Universe, the DC term "metahuman" and the Marvel term "mutant" are used interchangeably. Here, "mutant" is the less formal, slightly cruder term for the more proper "metahuman."
Also, I chose to go with Season 1 team/setting because that is the one I am most familiar with. I know a little bit about Season 3 and think that the metahuman trafficking plot would pair well with the X-Men mythos, but seeing as I am an (extremely) poor college student I haven't gotten a subscription to the DC streaming service and haven't been able to see any Season 3 episodes yet. So Season 1 it is.
Again, thank you for reading!