Connor Kent and the Revival of Krypton
Chapter 3
The smell of shit and piss hit the duo like a physical blow.
"Oh that is awful," Artemis said coughing.
"How do you think I feel?" Connor said trying to breathe through his mouth, "I have super senses."
"That's the thing. Lately I've been getting faster and stronger," she shook her head, "that definitely includes my senses."
Connor turned to her, the dim light of his phone revealed the surprise on his face, "Why am I just now hearing about this?"
"First of all," Artemis said glaring at him, "it was none of your business, and second of all, I didn't think it was that important."
Connor shook his head and sighed, "You're right, I'm sorry. It's just we have no idea what Cadmus made us capable of and I worry about you."
Artemis relaxed and looked at the ground guiltily. Way to make yourself seem like a bitch, Artemis. She thought to herself.
Artemis shook her head, "I'm sorry. It's just I've already got one overprotective boyfriend, I don't need my friends being overprotective to."
Friends, Connor thought with a sharp pain in his chest. He shook his head, "It's alright," he said stiffly pushing down his pain, "come on. We have to find whatever is producing that energy."
Connor, Artemis thought as she followed him down the tunnel.
For the next few minutes they took several twists and turns. After a particularly sharp one Artemis slipped and would've fallen if she wouldn't have put a hand on the wall. Moisture oozed between her fingers as she applied pressure on the mold that covered it.
"Please tell me that was just a dead rat."
Connor looked down, his enhanced vision allowing him to see in the dark. He's smirked, "Alright, it was a dead rat."
"Eww, that is disgusting."
She scraped her foot on the edge of the ledge, being careful not to stick it in the sewer water, "Are we almost there?"
"I think so," Connor said checking the map, "We're getting closer, and we're in the oldest part of the sewers. It can't be much farther."
"Good I want to get out of here as quick as possible…"
Thirty minutes later, Connor and Artemis stood before a waterfall that fed the sewer water into Gotham Bay. Secured over the mouth of the waterfall was an octagonal machine.
"What is that thing?"
"I don't know, but it's what's giving off the energy."
Connor took a step forward. The moment he did, the machine came to life with rings of white light in the center.
This can't be good, the neo-man of steel thought.
Para-demons began to pour out of the portal. Within moments, the two Cadmus creations were surrounded.
Artemis moved to stand at Connor's back. "This isn't good," she said, letting her hand drift to the crossbow at her hip.
"You got that right," Connor replied looking at her out of the corner of his eye, "we can't fight all of them here. We need more space to move."
"Do you think if we asked nicely, they'll move aside and let us pass."
Connor snorted, "I doubt it." He locked eyes with her without turning away from the para-demons, "Do you trust me?"
"You know I do."
"Good, then try to keep your mouth closed."
He spun around and wrapped an arm around her waist.
It was in that moment the para-demons lunged forward as if they just realized where they were and that there was someone else among them, their roars shook the tunnel, sending bits of masonry down from the aged bricks.
Lightning exploded around Connor, encasing him and Artemis in a protective aura. Please let this work, he thought, I really don't want to end up on Apocalypse.
Connor shot forward, blasting the para-demons backwards and jumped through the metal octagon mounted above the waterfall. He could feel the energies of the portal pulling at him but his protective aura stopped him and Artemis from taking a trip to Apocalypse.
They hit the water below and rolled to a stop on their bellies.
"Are you alright?" He asked Artemis as he helped her to her feet.
Artemis nodded and held her crossbow in front of her face, checking to make sure it still worked.
Para-demons roared and followed Connor's example by jumping through the portal, but they disappeared in a small flash.
The smarter para-demons climbed around the portal and drop down into the water below.
Connor stepped forward, "Are you good to fight?"
Artemis stepped up beside him with her crossbow in hand, and pulled the trigger. The arrow flew forward and struck a para demon in its glowing red eye.
The creature roared and tried to pull it out, but only succeeded in driving it in deeper. It seized up and fell to the ground in a crumpled heap.
Artemis looked at Connor with a smirk on her face, "Yeah, I'm good."
Sixteen para-demons charged forward with more coming out of the portal.
Artemis drew her second crossbow. She loaded arrows with practiced precision and began firing, but for every para-demon that went down to more took its place.
Connor stared hard at the approaching para-demons. Eight of them suddenly found themselves trapped in spheres of air that shrank to the size of a dime. Blood trickled from Connor's nose as the spheres faded away, dropping the pulverized remains of the para-demons into the water.
I definitely need to practice that, the neo-man of steel thought, it puts way too much strain on my body.
Artemis glanced at Connor, "We need to do something. I'm running out of arrows, and I don't think I can load my bow fast enough to keep them from getting close."
"I'm on it," Connor said, sprinting forward.
Para-demons tried to leap on the approaching Connor, but the neo-man of steel ducked, spun, and slammed his fist into their faces, sending them flying into the sewer wall.
He made it to the waterfall and floated upwards. He punched a para demon as it came through the portal, sending it back home. He then placed his hand on the octagon and closed his eyes.
When he discovered he had telepathic abilities he began experimenting. By using his power over electricity to send his brain waves into machines. He found that he could control machines, but this was the first time he had ever done it in a combat situation.
I hope this works, he thought, but knowing my luck it'll make things worse.
CK
Artemis through her crossbows away and prepared to fight the para-demons with her fists. This is a very bad idea, she thought, these creatures may be stupid, but they are definitely stronger than a human.
The para-demons drew closer, they flex their claws in anticipation of rending her flesh from her bones.
The Archer of Cadmus opened her mouth and release a sonic scream that sent the apocalyptic creatures flying backwards.
Artemis smirked. Luckily for me I'm not all human, she thought.
Suddenly, she lurched forward as a para demon fell onto her back.
Stupid, stupid, stupid, she thought, how could I forget these things can fly.
She cried out as the para-demons claws dug into her back, blood running down her back.
The world took on a red haze. You bastard, she thought. On instinct she pushed off the ground. All of a sudden she found herself in the air smashing against the roof of the sewer. She floated back down almost like she was flying, the para-demon toppled from her back.
Artemis winced when cool air hit the claw marks that trailed down her back. Am I flying? She wondered.
She was brought out of her thoughts when another para-demon leapt forward. Time seemed to slow down. She sidestepped its attack and drove her fist into his face, sending the para-demon flying backwards.
It slammed into the waterfall and didn't move.
Artemis stared down at her hands. What's happening to me? She wondered. Para-demons surrounded her, I'll think on that later.
CK
Connor opened his eyes at Artemis's sonic scream. His eyes widened when he saw a para-demon fall onto her back. He was just about to go and help when she leapt into the air and smashed it against the roof of the sewer.
The neo-man of steel's mouth dropped open. How did she do that? He wondered. He watched as she punched a para-demon, sending it flying backwards.
Incredible, he thought. His gaze hardened when she became surrounded by para-demons. Okay Connor, quit gawking you have a job to do, he thought.
He turned back to the machine and sent his thoughts into it. The white energy rings in the center of the octagon increased in power and reverse directions.
Every para-demon in the sewer began being sucked towards the octagon. When the last of the para-demons disappeared, Connor closed his eyes.
From what I can tell, he thought, there are more of these all around the world, he smirked, but lucky for me there all networked.
With a thought, the neo-man of steel made every portal implode.
Smirking to himself at a job well done, Connor dropped to the ground and made his way over to Artemis, "Are you alright?"
Artemis looked up at Connor with frightened eyes, causing his heart to ache. "What's happening to me?" She asked in a tremulous voice.
Connor walked forward, placed both hands on her shoulders, and stared into her eyes, "I don't know, but I promise you we're going to find out."
CK
Connor paced back-and-forth staring down at the smooth metal floor in the watchtower medical wing. Antiseptic burned his nose, but the neo-man of steel didn't notice. He was too preoccupied waiting for Martian Man Hunter to get back with the DNA test. Come on, he thought, how long does it take to do a blood test?
"You know you're going to wear a hole in the floor and fall right into outer space if you don't stop pacing."
Connor turned to look at Artemis.
She lay on her side with the back of her hospital gown open. Long bandages covered the claw marks on her back. By the time they had gotten to the watchtower, via a teleporter in the hall of Justice the wounds had already begun to close.
Another thing to add to her startling new abilities, Connor thought.
Connor smiled and his gaze trailed up her body, lingering on her smooth legs and firm posterior. He shook his head and gave her a thin smile, "I'm sorry, I'm just worried is all."
Artemis raised an eyebrow, "you're worried, I'm the one that's developing super human abilities. You should be the one keeping me calm, not the other way around."
Connor opened his mouth to say something, but was cut off when the door to her room opened.
Both of them looked around and was slightly disappointed when it was only Artemis's parents.
The neo-man of steel nodded to them and began making his way towards the door, "I'll give you some privacy."
Artemis nodded and as he made his way towards the door Black Canary gave him a grateful smile, "Thank you for getting her here in time."
Connor nodded, "I didn't do much, you've got one tough daughter."
"All the same," Black Canary said stepping forward, "thank you for watching out for her."
Connor smiled, "You're welcome." But she wouldn't be in this mess if it wasn't for me, he thought. He didn't voice his thought, because if he was honest with himself he was too afraid to. He was too afraid if he voiced is thought that they would try to make him stop seeing Artemis. He didn't think he could bear to not see her.
He shook his head and open the door. As he stepped out of the room, he heard green arrow ask, "What happened?"
CK
Artemis finished telling her parents what happened down in the sewer and why they were there.
Green arrow shook his head, and his eyes were hard behind his domino mask, "See this is why you should give up being a hero."
Artemis bristled, "I will not give up being a hero as long as I have the power to help people."
Green arrow crossed his arms over his muscled chest, his leather gloves creaked at the movement, "Don't you see how dangerous the hero gig is?"
Artemis narrowed her eyes, "The world is dangerous, what do you expect me to do crawl in a hole and hide?"
Green arrow shook his head, "No I want you to live a normal life. Roy has agreed to let you move in with him."
Red began to gather at the edges of Artemis's vision. How dare they, she thought, how dare they treat me like I'm some possession.
"Roy has agreed to let me move in with him," she repeated in a low dangerous voice. She turned a steely gaze on her father, "funny how we didn't talk about that."
Green Arrow shifted uncomfortably, "Well I talked to him on the way here. We both agreed it would be best for you to live with him so he could keep you safe."
Black Canary looked at her boyfriend with disbelief and anger in her eyes.
"And did it ever occur to you to think about what I want?" Artemis asked her voice rising.
Green Arrow opened his mouth, but Artemis cut him off, "Since I started dating Roy, you have had an invested interest in my relationship."
"I'm your father," Green Arrow replied defensively, "it's my job to have an invested interest in your relationships."
"A father that took two years to even admit that he had a daughter," Artemis snapback scathingly, she rolled over on her other side and stared out at the black expanse of space, wincing as she pulled the bandages on her back, "you know if I didn't know any better, I would say you arranged my relationship with Roy."
Out of the corner of her eye, Artemis saw her father stiffen just for a moment. She turned back over and looked at her father with narrowed eyes, "You didn't, did you?"
"No of course not," Green Arrow said a little too quickly, how could you even think that?
"How could you do that," Black Canary asked in disbelief, "how could you manipulate our daughter's life."
Green Arrow opened his mouth, but Black Canary cut him off, "Don't bother denying it. I know when you're lying."
Green Arrow's shoulders slumped, "I didn't manipulate your relationship per se, I just asked Roy to keep an eye on you. Just in case Cadmus left any sleeper commands," he looked at Artemis, "the choice for you to start dating is on you two, I had nothing to do with that."
Artemis sat there staring at her father with her mouth open. I can't believe it, she thought, my first relationship was a lie. Just an excuse for my own father to keep tabs on me because he didn't trust me.
Her disbelief turned to rage. She glared at her father with unshed tears in her eyes, "Get out," she said in a tremulous voice.
"Artemis, I,"Green Arrow began, but Artemis cut him off, "I said get out," she screamed, putting the power of her supersonic voice behind it.
The sound waves slammed Green Arrow against the wall and rattled the medical equipment in the room.
Green arrow slowly rose to his feet, "I can see you need some time to cool off." He began making his way towards the door. With his hand on the knob he look back, "I do love you Artemis, but you were created by a government organization. I was just trying to keep everyone safe. Think about it could you live with yourself if some left over radical from Cadmus took control of you and used you to kill someone that they thought were in the wrong."
With his piece said, Green Arrow opened the door and stepped outside, the door closed behind him with snap.
CK
Out in the hallway, Green Arrow found Connor leaning against the wall, "How much of that did you hear?"
"Enough to know that what you pulled was a dick move," Connor answered with an impassive look on his face.
Green Arrow nodded, "I know what I did was wrong, and it's been eating me alive for a while now, but it had to be done. After Brainiac took over the entire justice league every hero is under more suspicion. You two and the other heroes of the Justice League of America are products of Cadmus. You needed to be watched."
"I know," Connor said nodding, "but to watch your own daughter," he shook his head, "that's low."
"I know," Green Arrow said walking away. He stopped at the end of the hallway, "You'll watch out for her won't you?"
"Of course."
"Thanks."
Connor gave Artemis and her mother a chance to talk. He couldn't imagine the sense of betrayal she felt right now. This is your chance, a voice in his head said, her relationship with Red Arrow is as good as over.
Connor shook his head. Now is not the time for that kind of thinking, he told himself. He pushed off the wall when he saw Martian Man Hunter making his way towards Artemis's room. Time to find out what's going on, he thought.
CK
Darksied slammed his fist down on his throne, causing the fire on either side of the walkway leading to the throne to shoot towards the ceiling.
"You swore to me," he snarled, "that we would be able to take over the earth, but as of right now my boom-tube portals are destroyed, and a third of my para-demons are dead."
The figure in the iron mask shook their head slowly, "You really are a brute, aren't you?" They said offhandedly.
Crimson energy gathered around Darksied's eyes, "You dare insult me," he said in a low dangerous voice, "in my own throne room."
The cloaked figure laced their hands behind their back, "It's not an insult if it's true."
A roar sounded from Darksied's throat and crimson beams slammed into the cloaked figure.
There was an explosion and smoke obscured the bridge. When it cleared the cloaked figure stood there unharmed with a light blue aura around him.
"Are you done," they asked wiping imaginary dirt from their cloak, "because if you are I would like to get on with taking over earth."
Darksied's eyes narrowed. What is this thing before me? He thought, and how can they be unharmed after a shot from my Omega beam?.
"Speak," Darksied commanded. I don't know what you are, he thought to himself, but when your usefulness is over you will die.
"I would rather show you the next part of my plan," the cloaked figure raised a hand and a portal appeared before him. They turned back to Darksied, "come, were going to meet someone. I think you will get along nicely."
Darksied rose from his throne and stepped onto the bridge. He walked forward to stand beside the cloaked figure, just a foot from the portal. He looked at his ally with narrowed eyes that burned with Crimson energy, "If you betray me…" He left the thought hanging and walked into the portal
Fool, the cloaked figure thought, my plan is so much bigger than taking over just one planet.
They walked forward and disappeared into the portal.