Chapter six:
AN: congratulations to Mangalover4321 and Silly60 for guessing who "A good Soldier" was!? Virtual cookies for you guys!
Disclaimer: Nope. Still don't own Young Justice. •_• Shame, just think of the possibilities if I did though...
Anyway, enjoy this chapter! Hope everyone is having a fantabulous day wherever you guys may be!
Mount Justice
Wednesday 21st January
"A good soldier…"
Batman abruptly stood up, knocking the chair he was sitting on over as he did so.
All League members present, including young justice, jumped at the Batman's sudden movement.
"Batman?!" Superman shouted in worry and surprise.
Batman ignored Superman, walking to the interrogation room where Renegade was being held in.
The Dark Knight opened the door, paying no attention to the shouts of protest from the Leaguers that had followed him.
Batman stood in front of his former protégé with narrowed eyes.
"How and why?" he growled, fist clenching.
"Red hood. If you had bothered to read the file I left on the Bat Computer, instead of reminding me of my biggest failure, you would have known Ra's al Ghul revived him in his Lazarus Pit because he felt responsible for his death.
"As to why, He had to make sure I didn't try to escape or attempt to kill myself again. Hood was my 'initiative' as He put it. He had seen us aid each other when needed and figured out we were close."
Throughout the entire explanation, Renegade's voice remained monotone.
Batman's eyes widened behind his mask as his mind reeled at the new information while Black Canary, who had been present for Renegade's explanation, filed what the teen had said in the reassesses of her mind.
The two Leaguers thoughts were interrupted by Flash, who had sprinted into the room with a worried expression.
"Batman, Canary, the cave has just received a video file from an unknown source. Bats?" Flash looked at Batman, who was still looking at Renegade.
"Bring Renegade. I have a feeling this has something to do with him." With that, Batman walked to the door and was about to exit when Black Canary spoke up.
"What is he tries to escape again?"
Batman thought for a second before saying "put an inhibitor collar on him and don't let him out of your sight" and then proceeded to walk out the door.
Both heroes looked at each other and then Renegade. The ebony had had an impassive expression the entire time, even at the mention of an inhibitor collar.
"Umm…. Right. Flash, can you go and grab an inhibitor collar?" Black Canary asked, sending a worried glance at Renegade.
Flash nodded and left before returning a few seconds later with an inhibitor collar and remote. The fastest man alive then handed the collar to Black Canary then went over to wait at the door.
"Okay… Renegade? We're just going to put this on you just in case you… you know…"
Receiving no objection (or answer for that matter) Black Canary carefully clamped the collar around the teen's neck. The heroine tried not to notice how Renegade tensed when she went to put on the collar.
"Let's get going then."
Renegade stood and followed Flash, who opened the door, to the caves main computer system with Black Canary walking behind the ebony.
The entire Young Justice team along with a few league members (Wonder Woman, Superman, Martian Manhunter, Green Arrow, Zatanna, Zatara, Rocket and Batman, obviously) stood waiting for the three late comers to enter the room.
Zatanna gasped, only now seeing Nightwing for the first time since his reappearance.
"Nightwing!" she called, relieved to see him alive. Renegade didn't even look at his former team member.
Zatanna hung her head before Artemis promised to explain after. The magician nodded before returning her attention to the screen.
Batman typed a few codes in, allowing the video to open.
The first image seen on the screen was of a man dressed in orange and black armour. The man's mask only had one eye hole on the orange side. Two sheathed swords were strapped to his back. A black utility belt with guns and knives strapped to it rested on his hips.
Connor and Superman turned at the sudden noise of a heartbeat picking up and saw Renegade.
Renegade went stiff, the air escaping his lungs as his heart rate went berserk. He had gone three shades paler than he already was and didn't remove his eyes from the figure on the screen once.
Batman then clicked play…
-On screen-
"Hello Justice Leaguers.
If you're seeing this then that means Renegade, or Nightwing, is dead. Once I activated it, the inhibitor collar around his neck would have released a toxic amount of a serum I created to discipline the boy. The serum mimics the feeling of having your insides being eaten away at by acid along with actually injecting a small amount of regular acid.
How does it feel to have been so close to saving him, only to fail? I've heard from a certain psychotic clown that Renegade knows exactly how that feels…
Anyway… Batman. I thought you might want something of yours back. Don't be shy Hood, say hello."
The camera zoomed out to show Red Hood with his head hung on his chest and chained to a chair. The anti hero had cracks in his helmet along with rips in his clothes.
"Heh… Bastard." Mumbled the teen.
Deathstroke growled and punched his captive in the gut.
"You have fifteen minutes to find him alive. After that… Boom. Oh and just for fun, once you find him, I will send a few more files to Renegade's holographic glove he was so fond off. So don't bury it with the body…"
Renegade could practically see the smirk on his tormentors face.
It was at this moment, Renegade realised he hadn't been breathing the entire time the video was playing.
The ebony took a shaky breath in before somewhat relaxing his body. He steeled himself and stared into Batman's white slits, who, as soon s the video finished, had been watching him closely.
-Team's point of view—
As soon as the video finished, all eyes were on Renegade.
The ebony took in the shaky breath he had been holding before relaxing his tense muscles. The teen then looked over at Batman and their masked eyes met.
After a few seconds of silence, Batman spoke.
"I narrowed down the search to Gotham. The present League members will check the Westside, while the team checks the Eastside. The mission is to rescue Red Hood. Team, Renegade will be accompanying you for this mission. Some of you will be remaining here, to guard the cave. Aqualad. If Renegade makes any attempt to escape or harm any civilian, do not hesitate to use this remote to shock him. I won't be taking any chances. Not again."
Mumbling the last bit, Batman motioned for Black Canary to hand Aqualad the remote for Renegade's collar.
Canary obliged, handing the device over to Aqualad who nodded at Batman.
The Atlantian then turned the team.
"For those of you still in your civilian attire, get suited up and meet the rest of us in the hanger."
Aqualad then turned back to Renegade, who stood indifferently watching the team's new leader.
"Do not make me use this friend." Aqualad said in his ever calm voice.
Renegade remained silent. The two stood sizing each other up for several minutes before Aqualad finally gave up.
The Atlantian sighed and started leading Renegade to the hanger, even though the latter knew exactly where it was.
While walking to the bioship, Aqualad noticed that now, Renegade carried himself differently.
Renegade now moved deathly silent, before he left he would only walk like this while on the field or sneaking around the cave (which was a lot actually), but now he did it as if unintentionally. He also walked as if used to carrying swords and guns.
By the time the two reached the bioship, Kid Flash, Superboy, Miss Martian, Artemis, Beast Boy, Batgirl, Robin, Wonder Girl, Blue Beetle and Lagoon Boy were all waiting.
The team all board the bioship, Batgirl and Robin sitting near the back on the right, Kid Flash and Artemis sitting at the back but to the left, Beast Boy, Blue Beetle, Wonder Girl and Lagoon Boy were all sitting close together in the middle, Superboy sat next to Miss Martian while Kaldur and Renegade sat up the front, so the team could keep an eye on the mercenary.
The trip was silent for several minutes until Beast Boy couldn't take it anymore.
"So…. Why 'Renegade'?" the young challenging asked somewhat sheepishly.
Renegade didn't answer, instead just continuing to stare blankly out the window.
"Renegade is another word for traitor." Kid Flash answered, his voice dripping with malice all the while glaring at Renegade.
"Noted." Beast Boy, seeing the tension between the two, dropped the subject.
"Miss Martian, what is our ETA?" Aqualad asked, watching Renegade closely.
"ETA Three minutes." Miss Martian answered, glancing at her former and current team members before returning to piloting the bioship.
Gotham City
Old Arkham Prison
04:25 (4:25am)
Three minutes later the team touched down in East Gotham. All members were standing outside the bioship awaiting orders.
Finally Aqualad spoke, the team's uniforms thoroughly soaked by the never ending rain of Gotham.
"Does anyone have any idea where this 'Deathstroke' would be keeping Red Hood?"
Renegade started walking away from the group, glaring at something unseen as the others continued to discuss locations.
The mercenary took to the many shadows of Gotham, trained eyes never leaving a certain spot. Suddenly Renegade lashed out, roundhouse kicking a figure in the head.
Sparks spat out the headless figure, making Lagoon Boy shout out in alarm and Aqualad move his finger so he was ready to push the button of the inhibitor collar.
The headless figure's limp body fell forward revealing a black and orange headless robot. Slowly, the head of the robot rolled into the light, revealing a screen with a black and orange figure slowly clapping where the mask had shattered.
"Impressive mini Justice League. Congratulations on finding my Slade-bot so quickly. If any of you found it, I expect it would have been a bat. Maybe you are more of a threat than I first thought. And I should tell you, this is a pre recorded message so don't bother asking for hints or clues. I am not Riddler. But anyway…. The clock is ticking…. Only ten more minutes to find the Red Hood before Clayface has his fun, so I'd hurry it up. Otherwise, the Bat will be mourning two of his birdies instead of just one."
The masked man's chilling laughter filled the streets until Renegade growled almost silently and smashed his foot into the robots mask, smashing it into pieces.
The team stood gaping at how easy it was for Renegade to take out the robot while the mercenary stalked towards Old Arkham Prison (don't remember if this is a thing or not, but it is now!), the team only noticing when they heard the creak of the locked old gates as Renegade tried kicking said gates open.
"Renegade? I think it's locked." Miss Martian said softly, noticing the way her former team member still stuck to the shadows, unseen by many of the newer, less trained heroes.
Renegade didn't acknowledge the Martian, instead backing away from the old prison gate. Some members of the team cocked an eyebrow, while others readied themselves for an attack, and just in case, Aqualad once again let his finger lay at the ready on the inhibitor collar remote.
Abruptly, Renegade sprinted forward and wall ran up the fence as high as he could, which was at least three quarters of the fence, before using the momentum to flip backwards and use Superboy, who was watching intently while still being on guard, as a spring board and leapt gracefully over the barb wired fence, the barb wires a good 10cms away from his chest.
Rolling when he landed on the muddy, puddle ridden ground, the mercenary continued the roll to his feet in one swift movement. The ebony didn't turn to the team, instead just continuing on his way towards the prison entrance.
He was brought to his knees by an electrical shock running through his body. Compared to when he was with Deathstroke, the shock felt more like a Taser rather than being struck by lightening, but it still hurt like a bitch!
Renegade growled once the current had run its course, turning to glare at Aqualad.
"What?" The teen snarled, the white of his masked eyes narrow slits.
Aqualad shifted slightly under the younger's glare before steeling himself and saying "I am sorry friend, but you cannot go in without us. This is as much our mission as it is yours. Also, I am under strict orders from Batman to 'observe you carefully' as he put it."
Renegade stayed silent, getting himself up off the ground and walking over to the rusted gate.
The teen then pressed his pinkie and thumb together, releasing the lock pick once again and picking the lock open.
"Why couldn't I just break the gate?" mumbled Lagoon Boy, pouting like a child.
"Because this is a covert rescue mission. We don't want to alarm this 'Deathstroke' of our position." Aqualad said sternly, looking pointedly at the other Atlantian before continuing after Renegade.
Renegade shadowed forward, readying two shuriken from in his hands. "Where di you get those from? I thought Batman took everything off you when we captured you?" Wonder Girl asked.
Renegade ignored her as he suddenly threw the shuriken at the building. The shuriken were true to their target, hitting the camera right next to the lenses. Renegade started up his wrist computer and started typing in numerous codes.
"What are you…?" Kid Flash started but was cut of by Renegade.
"Hacking the security feeds" was the answer Renegade gave.
Nodding once he was done, Renegade started towards the side of the building, the others trailing behind him.
The side of the prison was worn and covered in growing vines. Parts of the wall were crumbling away and a generous amount of blood was splattered around and on the wall.
Renegade subconsciously put a hand to his shoulder, which didn't go unnoticed by Artemis.
"Is that yours…?" she asked, not expecting an answer.
"Yes."
The green clad archer's eyes widened at the answer, remembering her father for a second before shaking her head and continuing on forward.
Other members of the team, who had overheard the short answer, stared at the dried blood and cringed.
"Where are we even going?" mumbled Kid Flash angrily.
Artemis elbowed her lover, glaring at him before softening her glare and gestured to the ground. It was then the speedster realised the team were following a dried blood trail.
The red head gulped before following silently.
The blood led the team to a partly caved in doorway. Upon closer inspection, the team saw what looked like blood stained piece of black cloth caught in the debris.
Miss Martian let out a small gasp, the piece of cloth triggering a memory for Renegade…
-Memory-
Nightwing was leaning heavily against a wall, clutching his shoulder, where blood was blooming from. The whiny himself was in horrid condition.
Nightwing had blood and sweat clumped in his hair. His uniform was ripped and torn in numerous places, the skin showing battered, bruised and bleeding skin. The hero was panting and looked like every breath caused him immense pain along with every dragged footstep.
Suddenly, an infuriated shout filled the long, empty hallway.
"YOU WILL REGRET THIS BOY! WHEN I FIND YOU, YOU'LL WISH YOU'D DIED ON THAT MISSION! BECAUSE I WILL FIND YOU, I ALWAYS FIND YOU!"
Nightwing's eyes widened behind his still intact torn mask. He sped up, ignoring the pain that screamed out from his broken ribs and bleeding body.
Finally, after what felt like forever, Nightwing saw the door. Pushing himself even harder, the ebony reached out to the handle, only to crumble to his knees when he tried the handle and it was bolted from the outside.
Nightwing wanted to yell out in pure anger, but his throat had long ago stopped making any noise that sounded remotely human.
Instead, he groggily rose to his feet and slammed his entire body against the door. He heard the door's restraint begin to creak just before footsteps started approaching.
Desperate, Nightwing tried again harder, ignoring the pain that bloomed from his now fractured, already bleeding shoulder.
"NIGHTWING!" a voice screamed, anger and malice dripping.
More blood started flowing as the ebony finally managed to pry the door open.
Nightwing cracked a smile as he stumbled forward, almost out of his hell. Suddenly, a loud creak sounded before the hall was falling down on him. Debris fell all around him, making the injured teen have to dodge and weave. A rock fell and hit him on the head, making his vision even blurrier.
Nightwing then felt a bullet go through his already injured shoulder, making him stumble and fall to the ground. Seeing the entrance becoming blocked by debris, Nightwing pulled himself army style out of the main prison building, tearing his uniform as he did.
Groggily, the teen stood, trying to walk away from the hell he had been in, away from the torture, away from Deathstroke… away… why was he out here again?
Oh right. He had to get away…
Away from what?
Deathstroke! The rational part of his brain screamed at himself, his head getting heavier and his vision blurring and spinning further.
Suddenly he was on the floor, too weak to move. Nightwing was hardly breathing by now, clutching his shoulder tightly to try and stop the bleeding.
Bleeding… who was bleeding?
You are! Again the rational part screamed at him.
His eyes began to close, much to his dismay, and he grew tired. So. Very. Tired.
The hero heard the soft sound of footsteps approaching and knew he had failed. Failed to escape the horror that awaited him now.
"I told you I would find you. I will always find you."
Black and orange was the last thing he saw before his eyes closed and darkness consumed him.
"-gann… M'ga… M'gann!" Miss Martian gasped as she was brought back to the present.
The team surrounded her, worry on their faces. Renegade stood away from the group, still staring at the piece of cloth, his uniform Miss Martian's mind registered, as he gripped his shoulder again.
While the team fussed over Miss M, the mercenary took multiple steps back before throwing another shuriken, this one aimed the rubble and blinking red.
The debris exploded away, clearing the entrance and gaining the teams attention.
"Seven minutes." He reminded them as he began down the hallway.
"He is right. We should get moving if we are to save Red Hood." Aqualad said before following Renegade cautiously.
After lots of maze like hallways, doors and Nightwing's old birderrangs, the team reached two cells. Guarding the cells was Clayface.
Clayface roared as he charged forward, creating a spiked anvil out of clay. The mutant swung it at the charging Renegade, who dodged with ease.
Blue Beetle was firing sound blasts while, Miss M tried attacking mentally. Batgirl threw baterrangs whereas Kid Flash ran around confusing the clay monster while Artemis shot arrows. Beast Boy, Lagoon Boy, Superbly and Wonder Girl were all trying to land a blow while Robin threw birderrangs.
Overall the strategy seemed to be working, until Clayface roared even louder and swung his spiked anvil at Robin.
Renegade was there in a second, pushing the young teen out the way and taking the hit for him. The attack sent Renegade flying across the yard but apparently Clayface wasn't done.
The clay mutant then grabbed the ebony and slammed him into the ground in front of him.
Renegade wiped the blood dripping from the side of his mouth away as he stood up.
Everything happened at once after that.
One second Renegade was there hitting and kicking and throwing shuriken, the next Clayface was down, unconscious on the floor.
Ignoring the awed looks his former team gave him, Renegade walked to Red Hood's cell door, which was next to another cell door.
Renegade didn't bother to look at the old cell door, his old cell door, and instead picked open the lock. After two minutes, the lock was open and Renegade stepped inside the cell.
Inside the cell was dull and grey. Old chains hung from the wall with dried blood stains pooled around under it. There were no windows or vents, just the steel door to enter. The metallic smell of blood lingered.
A single swinging light build was the only source of light in the cell.
The room made most the team want to vomit, but apparently it didn't bother Renegade.
The mercenary walked to the centre of the room, where Red Hood was chained to a chair, limp.
Hidden in the corner was a large bomb, the red digital countdown showing 04:00 minutes remaining.
Renegade unchained Red Hood from the chair, catching the anti-hero before he hit the floor. The ebony then hastily checked for a pulse.
To his relief, Renegade found a one, strong as ever. With a metal sigh of relief, Renegade gently lifted the limp and unconscious Red Hood into his arms, bridal style.
Glancing at the timer, the mercenary saw he had 03:30 minutes before the building exploded.
"We have to go. Now." He said emotionlessly to the team, who were watching from the doorway.
Aqualad nodded and ordered the team to evacuate.
"But what about the other cell?" protested Lagoon Boy, glaring at Renegade and the person cradled in his arms.
"Not important. Let's move." Renegade said, beginning to walk away before Lagoon Boy grabbed his shoulder.
"No offense Chum, but I don't trust you. If you say it's not important, it probably is." Lagoon Boy spat out.
"…"
"Fine. I don't need your permission." Lagoon Boy squeezed Renegade's shoulder, the one the mercenary kept grabbing, before releasing it and turning and breaking the door off its hinges and immediately reeling back in disgust.
Blood was splattered everywhere, one the walls, pooled on the floor, along with knives and shuriken thrown into the plain white padded walls. Surgical tools lay strewn around the room, along with other tools such as a blow torch, crowbar etc. The room had no source of light, the one originally there being removed.
A blood stained straight jacket lay torn and ripped in the far right corner.
"02:24 minutes and counting." Renegade said monotone before turning and leaving with Red Hood still unconscious in his arms.
"Lagoon Boy. Let us get going. Superboy, grab Clayface and follow Renegade to the exit." Aqualad ordered, to which everyone complied, but not before looking in the room themselves.
Once out of the prison, the team plus Renegade filed into the Bioship. The team took the same positions as earlier, but Renegade was now standing at the back of the ship in the shadows, watching everyone as Red Hood sat limply in his chair.
Twelve minutes later the team touched down in Happy Harbour. The team filed out of the Bioship, Renegade carrying Red Hood.
Batman, Superman and Martian Manhunter were all waiting for the team's arrival in the hanger. Renegade ignored the heroes instead choosing to go straight to the med bay, Batman trailing closely behind.
is it just me or are these chapters getting longer? Tell me if you guys prefer longer chapters instead of lots of short ones! Oh and could you people give me some ideas for my other story?
IMPORTANT!
I may update some other Young Justice fan fictions I've been working on! All of them involve Dick Grayson though because... yeah, I don't need to explain myself do I? You Grayson fans out there would know what I'm trying to say! Let me know if you guys want me to do that or not! Also I will be trying to make a poll as to what I should do with my other story plot wise!
M'kay I'm done now!
Bai!