Summary: Raquel's dream
Disclaimer: I do not own any characters or organizations from the Young Justice cartoon, comics, expanded DC universe or Milestone universe.
The Star Chamber
Chapter Four
Dakota City limits
January 22, 5:40 EDT
The Flash walked along the edges of the bubble, scanner in hand, the Atom riding on his shoulder. They conferred with each other about the readings they gathered. The Atom jotted information down on a notebook that he had shrunken down to suit his size. Hal Jordan took to the skies, scanning the bubble with his ring. On occasion he would shout down his findings to the other two heroes.
Icon and Superman conferred with the Team. Superman placed his hand on Icon's shoulder, offering his colleague support. Icon fought to keep his body still, shivers running through his solid form.
"And she is inside? Alone?" Icon asked.
"Not alone. Static's with her," answered Robin.
"She was talking to a Rubberband Man and a Mr. Kim as well," Miss Martian added.
Icon breathed a sigh of relief. "That does ease my mind a bit."
Aqualad spoke hesitantly, not wanting to disturb the older hero's calm. "There was mention of an organization called the Shadow Cabinet."
"Now this makes sense," Icon growled.
The group became uneasy. In the short time Icon was with the league they had yet to see Icon express frustration. Even in the heat of battle he kept his cool.
Aqualad asked the question on his and his teammates minds, "Who exactly are they?"
"I believe that it would be better if I showed you." Icon turned from the group. "Dharma! I know you can hear me Dharma!" he yelled. "Come now of your own accord or I will tear your spire down brick by brick!"
A portal opened several feet away, darker than the early morning sky. Out stepped five individuals. In the center of the group was a tan, weathered, man with long, grey hair.
A black blur whizzed past the team. "You didn't have to threaten us you know." A woman stood in front of Icon, clad in a black suit with a golden lightning bolt across the front, her hands on her hips. Her dark hair was cut in a sharp bob, she tossed it out of her eyes. "You know that the shadowslide works best in complete darkness."
The team looked from Flash to Kid Flash and the speedsters stared back just as bewildered.
"She's not one of ours," said Flash.
"Guys if there was a speed babe in the Flash family I would have mentioned it by now," Kid Flash added.
"All things considered Blitzen I half expected you to be the first ones here," Icon said, his deep voice rumbled his displeasure.
The grey haired man approached the group. "You are not the only one who has lost someone Icon."
"So you care Dharma? I had assumed that the mission mattered above all else, even the lives of your operatives."
Dharma moved to speak and Icon cut him off.
"You are only here to address this mission's failure. To correct it."
Aqualad stepped forward. "This Holocaust believes that you have the ability to alter reality. Can you not simply stop this distortion?"
"Holocaust is mistaken. I have many talents, though they primarily lie in foreseeing the future. I am not able to create the energy needed to make such a distortion. I am however able to redirect such energy, to capture such energy. I assume Holocaust carries a brass ring?"
Aqualad nodded.
"That ring is a relic. It holds the remaining power from a being that once tore your and my world asunder. If left unchecked it will once again."
"You can see the future?" Superman asked, skepticism in his tone, "Then how could you not avoid this?" He pointed to the bubble.
Dharma shifted, unsettled. "Something has been clouding my visions as of late."
"Or someone." Robin appeared by Aqualad's side. "You ever hear of a sorcerer called Klarion?"
"That demon spawn?" Dharma raised an eyebrow. "He is indeed powerful but I do not believe his abilities extend far enough to block my visions."
"He has joined forces with other dark sorcerers in the past. Perhaps he has an ally," suggested Superman.
"That could be the problem." Dharma snapped his fingers. Two of his group's members walked away disappearing into the dark portal.
"Dharma." Icon's voice had lowered threateningly. "Klarion is an enemy of the Justice League. We will take care of him."
"You had better hope that your League finds him before my operatives," Dharma replied unshaken.
"So some of what Holocaust says is true?" asked Aqualad. "Is this really how the Shadow Cabinet operates? How is it better than your enemies?"
"Young man not all good works are performed in the light." They held each other's gaze for several seconds. It was Dharma who broke contact. "Come forward Iota."
A young woman in goggles approached the group, carrying a small chest.
"The bubble is unstable, but if the ring can be retrieved in a timely manner a disaster can be averted." Dharma took the chest from Iota. "In order to do so someone must enter the bubble and retrieve it."
"Very well. The team will go inside and find this ring," Aqualad volunteered.
Dharma shook his head. "I fear that is impossible. I understand your desire to rescue your friend but the bubble will reject anyone who is not originally from her world."
"I had already planed on going in alone anyway," said Icon.
"A noble idea Icon, but one sure to fail. I am sending Blitzen to assist you-" Dharma opened the chest. It was filled with silver rings. "as well as these. At the moment the inhabitants of the bubble are trapped within a dream world. Anything is possible. It all depends on who the ring is attuned to. Wearing one of these will keep you grounded to reality."
Icon and Blitzen each took a ring and placed it on their fingers.
Dharma closed the chest and offered it to Blitzen. "If given the opportunity place a ring on one of our allies inside. It will free them from the bubble's influence."
"Come." Icon turned to leave, moving rapidly towards the bubble. "The sooner we stop this anomaly the safer the world will be."
"Icon! " Blitzen scuttled after him. "Slow down you're leaving me!"
Everyone in the stands held their breath. The score was tied but the Rockets had the ball. The band had ceased playing and the cheerleaders all huddled around their captain and vice captain. The captain's eyes were locked on the game. The vice captain held her captain's hands, the brunette's blue eyes worried for her friend.
The game was not terribly important, but they were up against their rivals. The same rivals who had bested them several years in a row. A touchdown was made and the noise it summoned from the crowd was deafening. Once again the Quarterback/Running back combo, numbers two and four respectively won the day. The head cheerleader ran onto the field, red hair streaming behind her. She leapt into the running back's arms, knocking off his helmet to reveal his dark hair. The quarterback was lifted onto the team's shoulders.
Raquel let out another yell before reclaiming her seat.
"So…has he asked you to homecoming yet?" Her red headed friend pointed to the quarterback. His helmet had been knocked off revealing his bright hair.
"Kal's been busy Freda."
"Okay. Well have you asked him to homecoming then?"
Raquel remained quiet.
"Right…Enough with the excuses. Someone's gonna take him. In fact if you don't ask him I will."
"I don't get it." A boy on the row below them turned to them sharply, his locks whipping around. "What's so great about jocks anyway?"
"You mean besides the muscle tone?" A blonde boy interjected. He played a hand held game. The device beeped sadly as he lost the round.
"You're supposed to be on my side Rich." the first boy commented sourly. He snatched the handheld device from his friend's hands.
Richie leaned back casually. "Sorry Virg. I'm going to have to vote with the majority on this one."
Frieda threw a crumpled napkin at Virgil. "Don't start the jocks vs. nerds thing again. Besides Kaldur's special. He has beauty and brains."
"But no personality," Virgil countered.
"Oh I'm sorry. I didn't realize that not making a fool of one's self on the regular means that you don't have a personality. Great job on falling on your face at the beginning of the game by the way. "
Virgil arose and gave a deep dramatic bow."At least I know how to put on a show!"
"Guys stop it," Raquel interjected.
"No let them carry on." Richie waved to the pair of bickering friends. "This is more entertaining than the halftime show."
Raquel sighed and stood. "I'm gonna go."
"You're leaving?" Virgil watched Raquel as she descended the stands.
"Good luck!" Frieda yelled after her.
Raquel stood outside of the locker room, resisting the urge to pace. Kaldur exited the locker rooms double doors, a towel draped around his neck. He slouched, ruining his normally perfect posture. He gave a half-hearted goodbye to some of his teammates before turning to walk down the hall.
"Shouldn't you be happy?" Raquel asked, moving to walk beside him.
"Raquel!" His expression brightened a bit. "I did not see you. You have to excuse me. I did not get much sleep last night."
"Still working on that history paper?" She looked up at him concerned.
He chuckled softly. "It has been completed."
"You know you could have asked Ms. Quinones for an extension."
"It would not be fair to my fellow classmates to ask for special treatment."
"At least pick a less obscure subject next time."
"I will try to adhere to such wisdom in the future," he paused and then spoke carefully, "Did you need something Raquel?"
Raquel crossed her arms across her chest pretending to be offended. "I can't check up on you without needing something?
"I did not mean to…"
She grinned widely. "Oh its okay, I actually did want to ask you something."
"Hey Ervin!"
The pair turned to see a red headed boy. A cocky grin was plastered on his face.
"There you are! I've been looking all over girl."
Raquel's smile melted away. "What do you want Francis?"
"I keep telling ya babe. It's F stop." The redhead placed himself in between Kaldur and Raquel. "So how about being my date for homecoming?"
"Sorry." Raquel walked around him and took Kaldur's hand. "I'm going with Kaldur."
"Wait you're really going with strait laces over here?"
Kaldur gripped Raquel's hand tightly. "She is."
The redhead took a look at Kaldur and narrowed his eyes. Normally someone with Kaldur's disposition would be a target for the bully. He was quiet and polite to a fault. He was also well muscled and had proven his prowess within several of the school's sports teams. Swimming, wrestling as well as football. It made his silence more menacing.
Francis shook his head put his hands in his pockets. He walked off slouching. Unable to resist getting the last word, he looked over his shoulder, and yelled back, "You let me know when you get bored. I'll be happy to show you some real fun."
Kaldur waited until the ill tempered boy was out of sight. He released Raquel's hand slowly. "We are going to the dance?"
"What? Were you not gonna ask me?"
"I had assumed that you already acquired a date."
"Well?"
Kaldur cleared his throat. "Raquel would you like to go to the Homecoming dance with me."
"Why Kaldur I thought you'd never ask. I would be delighted!" she said over-dramatically, drawing a chuckle from the boy. "Actually I'm surprised that someone hadn't asked you yet."
"Well." Kaldur scratched his head. "All week girls have approached me, but when they attempted to speak they would either babble or giggle. It was quite disconcerting."
Explosions rumbled in the distance, the force shaking the ground.
"I got to go," Raquel said before rushing toward the sound.
"Go? Wait!" Kaldur ran after Raquel. He lost her when she turned the corner. He would spend the better part of that afternoon looking for her.
A striking figure clad in red flew across the sky, her green cape billowing behind her. Principle Freeman watched the figure with a frown. He stood with his arms clasped behind his back, his muscles bulging under his tailored suit.
A woman appeared by his side, she pushed her short, dark hair behind an ear. "She'll be alright Icon."
"I told you. No code names Ms. Kameya. Besides, she's Icon now."
"Yes she is, but this is her world Augustus. She will manage without you clucking after her and again it's Valerie. Don't be so formal. " Valerie passed the principle a clipboard. "I have identified all super powered beings within the distortion, but it is all very confusing. There are people here that well… shouldn't"
The Principal flipped through the pages. "They are not real. She has incorporated everything she knows and everything she wants into this world. I only hope that it is not too much strain on the ring."
"I think we are going to need help."
"Who do you suggest awakening first?"
"Gerri"
Augustus pursed his lips. "That will not be so easy Ms. Ka-Valerie. Your relationship with Brauer is not the same in this reality."
"I can handle it." Valerie shrugged. "Don is Don no matter where she goes." She snatched the clipboard from Augustus' hands. "Now let's go watch the news. We wouldn't want to miss another one of Icon's daring feats!"
End of Chapter Four! Please Review!
A few notes.
Francis/F-Stop is Hot Streak.
Ms. Quinones is Flashback. She had like one or two lines in a previous chapter. She has the ability to go back in time. Only for three seconds at a time though. Generally she uses it to prevent her teammate's deaths. I felt that it was appropriate to have her be the history teacher because of her powers.
Blitzen/ Valerie Kameya is a biochemist. She developed a chemical that gave her super speed.
Donner/Gerri Brauer has super-strength and is invulnerable to a certain extent.
I always felt that Milestone naming the pair after reindeer was cute, but then I found out that Donner and Blitzen basically translates to thunder and lightning. So Donner is the thunder with her super- strength and Blitzen is the lighting with her speed. I still think it's cute of course, just now it also makes sense. XD