Mount Justice
August 3, 13:06 EDT
"Recognized, Sparrow, B-0-2."
The bright light dimmed as I entered the Cave. I saw Kid Flash and Aqualad playing air hockey on a virtual table while Robin and Miss Martian watched them play. I walked over to Robin, bumping him with my hip. He smiled, actually smiled-not that weird smirk of his-down at me as I turned to the game.
I smirked as KF scored a goal and Aqualad gave him a look. KF just leaned back and happily munched on his banana in triumph. My nose wrinkled slightly. I hated bananas. Dunno why, the taste just grossed me out.
"Recognized, Superboy, B-0-5."
I looked over to the Tubes at the angry Kryptonian. My eyes widened as I stepped away from Robin so I wouldn't get trampled. Wow, he looked mad.
"Hi, Superboy. How was Metropolis?" Miss M asked cheerfully, in hopes to raise his spirits.
Superboy stormed past, stepping through the digital table, causing it to disappear. I looked off to the side as I heard someone made their presence known. It was Black Canary and Martian Manhunter.
"Ready for training, everyone?" Canary asked.
"Black Canary! Uncle J'onn!" Miss M exclaimed, flying over to her uncle and giving him a hug.
"M'gann, I was in the neighborhood, so I thought I'd see how you were adjusting," J'onn said.
"A few bumps, but I'm learning," Miss M admitted.
"That's all I can ask."
"Stick around. Class is in session," Canary called out to Superboy who was trying to leave.
The blonde heroine walked over to the middle of room, the ground lighting up under her feet. She turned around to face us.
"I consider it an honor to be your teacher. I'll throw a lot at you. Everything I've learned from my own mentors," she grunted in pain as she slipped her bandaged arm out of her jacket, "and my own bruises."
I gave sympathetic wince. I would definitely agree to that. Especially the first bit. The first few weeks of being trained by Batman was painful. I thought I would never be able to stand up straight again.
"What happened?" Miss M asked, concerned.
"The job," Canary said shortly. "Now, combat is about controlling conflict, putting the battle on your terms. You should always be acting, never reacting. I'll need a sparring partner."
Kid's hand shot up eagerly. "Right here. Yeah!" he said, walking up to Canary.
"After this," Kid tossed his banana away, "I'll show you my moves."
I smirked at the look on Canary's face. This was about to get much more interesting. Canary shot out, throwing a punch which Kid managed to block. Before he had time to react, Canary dropped down into a crouch and swiped Kid's feet out from under him. KF's back slammed into the ground as a screen pulled up announcing his failure.
Kid groaned. "Hurts so good."
"Good block. But did anyone see what he did wrong?" Canary asked as she helped him up.
"Ooh, ooh. He hit on teacher and got served?" Robin piped up.
"Dude!" Kid yelped, embarrassed.
I smirked, placing my hand on my hip. Rob had a point though behind the joke. It was true.
"He allowed me to dictate the terms of-"
"Oh, please," Superboy interrupted. "With my powers, the battle's always on my terms.
I'm a living weapon, and this is a waste of my time."
"Prove it," Canary challenged.
Superboy walked over to her, arms crossed. Kid quickly stepped back from the fight, bumping into me. I pushed past him to stand up front and watch.
They dropped into fighting stances, pausing for a moment to see who would go first. Superboy reacted first, swinging at Canary. She grabbed his arm, throwing him over her shoulder into the ground. I flinched, almost feeling the pain in my back myself.
Robin burst into laughter, pointing at Superboy. It was amusing to a point. Canary didn't even try. Aqualad quickly elbowed Robin, causing Boy Wonder to cover his mouth. Superboy turned over, growling softly as he glared at Canary.
"You're angry. Good, but don't react. Channel that anger into-"
Superboy yelled, charging at Canary. She flipped over him, knocking him on his back again. He groaned, eyes scrunched up. I heard Robin giggle again as the rest of us flinched. Canary reached down to help Superboy up but he refused.
"That's it. I'm done," he growled, ready to walk off.
"Training is mandatory," Canary told him.
He glared at her, about to retort when a live video pulled up on a screen. It was Batman.
"Batman to the cave. Five hours ago, a new menace attacked Green Arrow and Black Canary," he said, another video pulling up to the side. "The attacker was capable of studying, then duplicating the powers and abilities of its opponents. Arrow called in reinforcements, which nearly proved disastrous as our foe gained more and more power with each new combatant."
My eyes widened as I continued to watch the video. The man was capable of throwing Superman off of him. This guy was intense.
"Whoa. One guy with the powers of the entire League?" Kid said in awe.
"In the end, it took 8 leaguers to dismantle the android," Batman continued.
"An android? Who made it, T.O. Morrow?"
"Good guess, Robin. But Red Tornado doesn't think so."
"The technology bears the signature of Professor Ivo," Manhunter said.
"I thought Ivo was dead," I said.
"So we all thought or hoped," Canary said, looking back at me.
"To make certain this threat is permanently neutralized, we're sending two trucks carrying the android's parts to two separate S.T.A.R. Lab facilities in Boston and New York for immediate evaluation. Every precaution is being taken," Batman explained. "We'll have 4 additional decoy trucks to create confusion in case Ivo or anyone tries to recover the remains. You will split into undercover teams to safeguard the two real trucks."
"Yes! Road trip," Kid cheered, holding his hand up to me for a high five. I obliged, slapping his palm.
"So now we take out your trash?" Superboy grumbled.
"You had something better to do?" Batman retorted.
"Coordinates received. On our way," Aqualad said.
Litchfield County
August 3, 20:08 EDT
Since we were undercover yet still with the Team, Robin and I had exchanged our masks for the shades we typically wore. I disliked that we had to wear them even when it was beginning to get dark, but secret identities were, well, a secret. The Team couldn't know who we were. No matter how much I wanted to tell them.
I turned to Robin, who sat beside me on his bike. My biking suit was similar to his, except where it was red and yellow, mine was just blue. Same with my bike. I caught a glimpse of his eyes before he fully looked at me. I grinned, lifting a brow.
"Is it bad I'm actually looking forward to this? I need a calmer mission after a week full of rough patrols," I said.
He grinned at me. "I think we all could use it," he answered.
I looked behind my shoulder over at Superboy who was still pouting. I think he definitely needed this. He needed to cool off and this may help him.
I look up to see the trucks pulling out onto the highway, knowing it was our cue to head out. I quickly pulled my helmet over my head, following Robin and Superboy. Miss M, Kid Flash, and Aqualad took the other trucks. We rode in silence for a while until Robin pulled up to me.
"If dislike is the opposite of like, is disaster the opposite of aster? See, instead of things going wrong, they go right," Robin said.
I rolled my eyes but smiled because I was used to this. He only started this maybe two years ago. Pretty sure our English teachers hated him. Robin looked past me at our teammate.
"Uh, clearly you're not feeling the aster. What's wrong?"
"Canary. What business does she have teaching combat skills to a guy with super strength?" Superboy snapped.
"Taking down stronger guys is part of the gig. Canary learned that the hard way. Same with Batman and, well, Sparrow and me."
I nodded, agreeing to Robin's words. "Trust me, I have the bruises to prove it. I think that's mostly from my own clumsiness, but you get what I'm saying."
Superboy didn't answer as he drove ahead, leaving me and Robin in his dust. I glanced over at Robin, frowning slightly.
"He'll be fine. Like I said, a quiet mission will help," he assured me.
I nodded, mostly to myself as we fell silent. Over the hum of the engines, I could hear something else. It was like...laughter? Robotic laughter. I felt something fly past me over to the truck. Multiple robotic monkeys landed on the truck and I knew their intentions. To get Amazo.
"Robin, Superboy, Sparrow, our truck is under attack!"
"Kind of figured," Robin said.
"Ours is too. By monkeys!" I added.
"I hate monkeys," Superboy growled.
I watched as the truck began the swerve. The driver was panicked, trying to shake the monkeys off. Thank goodness the road was clear from other cars.
"Robot monkeys! Totally Ivo's tweaked style," Robin laughed.
I pressed a button on my bike and it shrunk while a copter style gun flew up behind me. It rode up in the air, high enough to aim for the monkeys.
"Hey, hey. Switch your ride to battle mode," Robin called to Superboy.
"No point," Superboy answered, leaping off his bike. It went off balance, tumbling toward me.
"Great," I yelped, jumping off my bike before I was hit.
I shot my grappling hook at the back of the truck, swinging to the side, kicking off some monkeys. I grabbed a Batarang, shoving it through a monkey's chest. The monkey's eyes dimmed as it fell off the truck. I could feel the heat of the lasers coming from the copter as it shot at monkeys.
I climbed up the side of the truck, pulling out my bo-staff. I charged it up, knocking a few monkeys off the truck. The truck shook as Superboy landed on top. My feet shuffled as I began to lose balance. I fell, sliding off the truck. I grabbed onto the edge of the truck, looking up at Robin.
"Get the driver out of here!" I ordered.
He nodded, dropping into front of the windshield and ordering the driver to get out. They jumped off the truck as I felt it begin to turn.
I kicked away from the truck, my shoulder hitting the road a few feet away. I kept low in case of anything flying as I watching the truck flip over many times. The back of the truck exploded and the monkeys carried the containers out. I sighed, rising to my feet as I watched them fly away.
"Just great," I muttered.
I clutched my shoulder as I felt pain ripple through my arm. I looked up, seeing Superboy leap away after the monkeys.
"Superboy, wait!" I yelled, even though it was no use. He was too far gone.
"Aqualad to Robin. We've lost our cargo.
Did you-" Aqualad reported.
"It's gone. And so is our partner," I heard Robin say through the comm as he walked over to me.
He touched my uninjured shoulder, turning me around to face him. I winced as Robin put pressure to my injury, right at the edge of my collarbone where my shoulder connected. His frown deepened as he saw my reaction.
"Superboy?" Aqualad asked after there was a long silence.
"I think he ditched his comm," Robin said.
"Super. Now we can't even track him," Kid complained.
I shook my head at Robin as he gave me a look. Not now. We had bigger things to worry about at the moment than an injured shoulder. I've had worse and still kept to the mission.
"Well, that's a great plan, except for the part about us not knowing where to look!" Kid cried out.
I sighed. "Calm down, Kid. This isn't over yet," I said.
"We'd have heard by now if the decoy trucks had been attacked. So how did these monkeys know exactly which trucks to target?" Robin asked rhetorically.
I watched as he plugged a cord up to the monkey and hacking into the system. I scoffed as we found the answer.
"The parts have GPS! The monkeys can track the signal, which means I can track them with the one I captured. It looks both sets of parts are converging on...Gotham City!" Robin said with wide eyes.
I internally groaned, tilting my head back in annoyance. I shouldn't have asked for a calm mission. If I said nothing, maybe we would have.
"That far south? M'gann and I won't get there anytime soon. I'm sending Kid on ahead to meet you. Aqualad out," our leader said, disconnecting our conversation.
Robin sighed as he stood. He pressed a button on his wrist, sending over our emergency bikes. If the main body as too damaged, then a smaller version could be brought out to use.
"Definitely a disaster, heavy on the 'dis'."
"You're telling me," I answered, glaring down at my arm.
"Are you going to be alright?" he asked me, turning to look at my shoulder.
"I've had worse. I'll manage."
I looked over as my bike came up to me. I gingerly unzipped my motorcycle jacket, revealing my suit. I took off the rest of the outfit, clipping my cape back on and slipping on a mask. I look up to see Robin having done the same.
"Ready?" I asked, climbing on my bike while trying to keep my shoulder as still as possible.
"Yeah."
We revved up our bikes, taking off to our city. I just really hoped Amazo hadn't been reconstructed yet. I've already dealt with enough to have to fight an android that can take down every person in the League.
We finally reached the city limits as Kid Flash caught up with us. I looked over as KF ran along beside us.
"So you changed, too?" Robin asked.
"You kidding? I feel naked in civvies," Kid joked.
I grimaced. "Thanks for that visual," I said sarcastically.
Kid grinned over at me, his grin falling when he saw the way I had my shoulder positioned.
"Are you good?" he asked, knowing this wasn't new.
"Uh, of course. Do I look like a damsel in distress to you?" I teased, smirking.
Kid grinned again, turning to Robin.
"You still tracking the parts?" he asked.
"They were heading through Gotham, but they veered. Wait," Robin paused. "Dude, they're at our school!"
"Oh great. That's just perfect," I grumbled.
We made it into Gotham, changing course so we headed over to Gotham Academy. Why were the parts at our school? When we made it over to the school, we took off inside. Loud crashes came from the gym, causing us to follow the sound. Kid ran on ahead to help as Robin and I followed.
As we got into the gym, Kid ran over to us, pulling a beat up Superboy along. I knelt beside him, checking on him as Robin threw a Birdarang at Amazo's head.
"Martian Manhunter," the android chanted, density shifting so the weapon flew through him.
"Access Red Tornado."
The android rose in a tornado, flying over to us. The tornado knocked us all back in different directions. I flew back into a wall, my shoulder getting jostled. I yelped, dropping to the ground in a heap. I grabbed my arm, holding it to my body.
"Access Captain Atom."
I looked up to see Kid run away before he could get blasted, running behind the bleachers and coming around to the other side. I stood up, leaning against the wall, pulling out a Batarang in case.
"Access Black Canary."
Kid flew back as Amazo let out a Canary Cry that knocking the speedster off his feet.
"Superman."
Amazo blocked Superboy's punch, throwing his own punch to Superboy's face. He went flying back, flying into the bleachers by Robin. I let go of my Batarang, in hopes that it would get Amazo.
"Martian Manhunter."
Amazo's arm extended, snacking the Batarang away as it exploded. He whipped his arm out, slamming into the ground where I had been standing. I ran off to the side, sliding to a stop by the bleachers.
"Superman."
Amazo grabbed Kid, pulling him into a tight hold. Kid cried out in pain as his body was being crushed by Amazo's hold. Before I let another Batarang lose, an arrow came flying out of nowhere, aimed for Amazo's head.
"Martian Manhunter."
The arrow flew by and unfazed Amazon. It gave Kid a chance to slip away as the density shifting took place. He sped away from underneath Amazo as Superboy charged for Amazo.
"Access Black Canary."
Amazo used the tactic that Canary had used back at the Cave, throwing Superboy over his shoulder. Superboy went flying into the bleachers. Robin and I threw weapons at Amazo but they did nothing.
"Superman."
Amazo's eyes began to glow red as KF zipped by, grabbing Robin and I. The three of us tumbled to the floor as Amazo's heat vision went off.
"Oh, yawn. Normally, Amazo would study and mimic your abilities during battle, but what's the point? You're all such poor copies of the originals," Ivo said.
I looked up at where he had been sitting this entire time. I narrowed my eyes annoyed by what he said.
"So everyone keeps saying. It makes me angry!" Superboy yelled, leaping across the gym slamming into the bleachers where Ivo had been sitting. "Want to see me channel that anger?!"
"Great. He's gone ballistic again," Kid cried out.
I shared a look with Robin, grinning.
"Maybe not."
I nodded, agreeing with Robin. I turned to Kid. "If Amazo gets distracted by protecting Ivo, we should be able to stop him."
"Amazo, protect your master. Priority alpha," Ivo cried out in fear as he leaped away from Superboy.
"Captain Atom"
Amazo blasted Superboy with a beam which gave Robin a chance to kick Ivo away from his monkeys.
"Anyone want to play keep-away?" he asked.
"I do!" I answered, kicking Ivo in the side. He went sliding across the floor toward Kid.
"Me, me!" the speedster said.
"Access Superman."
Amazo stomped on the ground, sending a tremor toward Kid. He went flying through the air, and crashed into the bleachers.
"Martian Manhunter."
Amazo density shifted to dodge Robin's Birdarang long enough for Superboy to send his fist through before Amazo fully materialized.
"Superman."
No power was set off as sparks flew around Superboy's head. Amazo exploded, sending Superboy flying back. The headless body fell down, smoke coming from his neck. I ran up to the android, dropping to my knees beside Robin.
"Help us disassemble him now!" Robin demanded.
"Dude, the guy has no head," Kid pointed out.
"Don't take any chances."
I turned my head as Aqualad and Miss Martian finally arrived, running into the gym. Miss M landed beside Superboy, helping him stand.
"Superboy, are you alright?" she asked.
"I'm fine. Feeling the aster," Superboy answered.
My head shot up at that word. I scoffed, shaking my head in amusement. I guess Robin rubs off on everyone.
"Hey. Where's Ivo?" Kid asked.
My brow furrowed as I scanned around the room. He had just disappeared into thin air. I sighed, too tired to even care.
Mount Justice
August 4, 01:06 EDT
"The Amazo android is in pieces again, Safely being analyzed at the two separate S.T.A.R. Labs, but Ivo escaped, and since he originated the tech, he's arguably more dangerous than the android," Aqualad explained.
"Capturing the professor will be a League priority," Canary assured us.
"But we understand your mission encountered...other complications," Martian Manhunter pointed out.
I looked over at Superboy, smirking slightly as he looked away.
"Complications come with the job. Your ability to handle them has impressed the League," Batman said.
"The whole League?" Superboy asked, hopefully.
"Given time, yes. Kryptonians, as you know, have very hard heads," Batman said with a hint of a smile.
I grinned, crossing my arms. He wasn't wrong there.
"Of course, there's no shame in asking for help. That's why the League exists, because there are some problems even we can't handle individually," Batman continued.
"Please. If we needed help, we'd never get the chance to ask," Robin said, pulling out the arrow that had saved Kid Flash. Batman took it from Robin, examining it then passing it to Green Arrow.
"Look familiar? You were following us! Babysitting! You still don't trust us," Robin huffed.
"We didn't follow you." Batman said.
Green Arrow pulled out one of his own arrows from his quiver. The top had a complete different design than ours.
"And that's not your arrow, but that means-"
"Could it be Speedy?" I asked.
"He has our backs," Aqualad determined.
"Souvenir!" KF exclaimed, running over to snatch the arrow away.
My grin went lopsided as I saw the look that passed between Batman and Green Arrow. Something was up. Last I knew, Speedy had red feathered arrows, not green. Unless he took some arrows from GA, then it wasn't Speedy. Was someone else looking out for us that we didn't know about?
Gotham City
August 4, 03:12 EDT
I stepped into my room and turned on the lamp, giving me just enough light to get ready for bed. As I walked to the window, I peeled my mask off and tossed it onto my dresser. I reached for the drapes to close them, but before I pulled them shut, I saw something move next door.
My eyes narrowed as I saw a blonde girl dressed in green slip through a window. She pulled off her mask before closing her blinds. My eyes widened as I quickly jerked the drapes shut.
The neighbor girl? What is she doing out this late and dressed in those clothes no less? I shook my head, proceeding to change into pjs like I was going to do originally. After I was finished, I turned off my light and flopped into bed.
With a heavy sigh, I snuggled into the sheets. My eyes refused to close though after I had seen what I just did. A teenager sneaking out at night was one thing, but I had a feeling she was no normal teen. I frowned to myself, scrunching my eyes closed. Whatever it was, I would deal with later. Right now, I needed sleep.