Young Justice: Echo, Volume One

by Familiar47

In the Aftermath of the Reach Invasion, a new team is formed just as the Light makes its move. At the same time a force infinitely deadlier prepares to harvest Earth after destroying its champions.

7. Episode Six

Young Justice Echo, Volume One

In the aftermath of the Reach Invasion's failure, new heroes have stepped up to join the combined forces of the Justice League and Young Justice. A new team, Echo, has been formed and immediately finds themselves facing a new enemy, and a new invasion.

I do not own The Justice League, Young Justice, or any and all characters associated with either the shows, comics, etc. All are property of DC Comics.

Also, I've decided that I'm not going to bother with the whole EST, UTC, etc. I'll just say what time it is at a particular location.

To my Anonymous Reviewer...

If it has nothing to do with the story itself, or perhaps a similar topic, I would appreciate if you don't review just to go on a rant.

WARNING. WARNING. Incoming vital data. Encryption Model Knightfall.

File Name: AUTHORITY

Tier 10 Classification. Enter pass code.

BATMAN 01. PASSWORD GREYGHOST.

AUTHORITY File opening...please wait...

File opened.

Batman, you have to see this. I know that you don't trust me much, but that little war that just happened in plain sight all over the world has drawn a reaction from the UN. Open the folder labelled FLUORIDE and proceed to the next folder listed at the end of it.

I may need the help of your Black Op team. Keep in position for easy contact. Tell no one else.

-The Question

Xxx

YOUNG JUSTICE, SEASON THREE, ECHO

Episode Six: Celestial, Part One

Xxx

"Go ahead."

"Nightwing."

"...Batman."

"You left before the police could secure the facility."

"I had other places to be back in Bludhaven."

"...Dick...you don't need to keep blocking the team out. They're your friends, and they'd take you back as leader in a heart beat-"

"Br-Batman, I'm not discussing this! I'm an associate member of the team, and only that. I'm...I'm just not ready to come back in full time."

"Would you be at least willing to help Tigress and Guardian with a new mission?"

"...Not with Echo again to make sure they don't get lazy?"

"Echo will do fine elsewhere. I need at least three operatives for a mission to South America, and both you and Tigress are the most versed at infiltration while Guardian is harder to recognize due to having a lower profile and wearing his helmet in action, and his ability to access encrypted files is second only to yours."

"...Fine. Send me the coordinates and I'll zeta to their location."

"Transferring them now. Good luck and...be careful."

Xxx

9:34 PM, April 7th, 2017

Watch Tower, Lounge Area

"Man is it me or is this place more crowded than usual?" Cyborg asked as he looked around the now very busy lounge filled with heroes he hadn't even known existed before. "Is that girl packing a katana like Ravager?!" A pair of white-red blurs shot past as he made his way towards a free couch with Nathan and Courtney. "We have way too many speedsters on board!"

"The League did say they were transferring all of their affiliates and allies to the Watch Tower after that massive attack staged by The Light." Nathan said as he sat down on the couch and reached for the remote. "But now it's time for a slightly less depressing topic than the fact that the League popularity just plummeted."

For the past two days it had been pure chaos for the Justice League. It had been forced to conduct rescue operations for heroes not only under attack but for ones already captured or injured by The Light's forces. By the time it had ended near midnight only over twenty one hours ago there had been dozens of deaths...including a few villains by military and police forces and potentially by some heroes by accident.

And now that the fighting was over, it was time to see just how the public was reacting. Nathan stood up and cupped his hands to shout over the chatter. "Hey! Everybody! Quiet!" He turned on the TV as silence fell over the lounge, and he turned up the volume just in case his command was not as well received as he had hoped.

"Three, two-" Victor counted down with his fingers before the commercials ended and...

"Earlier today a press conference was convened by Justice League member Martian Manhunter, who has revealed a controversial and enticing offer on behalf of one of Mars' previously unknown subcultures: The White Martians." A news anchor announced. "The Manhunter and members of this White Martian race met with reporters outside after a private meeting with the United Nations."

The screen changed entirely to show the Martian Manhunter, dated around noon today, standing outside of the UN building in New York. Standing next to him was one of the elders of the White Martians who had illegally come to Earth. The White Martians had adapted well to taking on more welcoming appearances, and this one had taken on that of a middle aged man wearing long robes arranged with colors and patterns favored in Martian fashion.

"People of Earth, I present to you Elder Goro Sa'eveth (S-ae-veth) of the White Martians." The Manhunter introduced the older Martian, who had taken on a semi-human form to avoid frightening people away-it was no secret that the true form of the White Martian race was rather intimidating even by Martian standards. "He has come to your world with my blessing to request the permission of the United Nations to undergo a project that will rectify the tragic setback last year with the loss of the communications satellite that had been destroyed during takeoff. Though the White Martians are considered lesser by many on my world, they have proven time and time again that they are just as worthy of recognition and praise; and now they wish to prove it again by giving Earth a gift that has been long dreamt of."

He let Goro Sa'eveth take over. The elder cleared his throat and took a deep breath. "Greetings. I am Elder Goro Sa'eveth. Many of my people have often been underappreciated for our work, and I am ashamed to say that it left us thirsting for acknowledgment. We have made poor choices in the past, but today seek to correct that by offering our services to the governments of Earth and its collective peoples. Those of the White Martians who have accompanied me to Earth are trained in the arts of engineering, construction, and arts. We wish to use these talents by giving Earth its very first lunar city, to be operated entirely under the command of the United Nations and built with a combination of Human and Martian ingenuity and adaptive thinking. Should the United Nations accept our offer, we promise to prove to you that we, your neighbors from Mars are trustworthy and seek only to close the gap between our two worlds."

There were mixed reactions ,but clearly many of the reporters present were excited and intrigued by this announcement.

"We are now taking questions." The Martian Manhunter announced.

"Lois Lane, Daily Planet!" A dark haired woman stood up. "Elder Goro Sa'eveth, if the United Nations approves of this construction project, what would the cost be?"

"A very reasonable question Ms Lane," Goro replied. "The Justice League, Wayne Foundation, Queen Industries and other charitable sources are willing to provide donations to this project. In addition my people will seek out natural resources from off world to use in this endeavour. We don't wish to put any nations into bankruptcy, I promise you."

"J'onn must have done a mind meld to teach the Elder more about Earth." Victor leaned back on the couch, throwing his arms over the back of it while crossing his legs on the coffee table. "And they probably practiced this a few dozen times too."

"Can you blame him?" Nathan asked.

"Never said I did; to the contrary it's a smart thing to do. More ethical than telepathically guiding him through it," Victor shrugged.

"Shh!" Rose quickly hushed them.

"G Gordon Godfrey, GBS!" A familiar blonde man with a British accent stepped out-more like shoved his way to the front. "Pardon me if I'm a bit of a party pooper here, but didn't we only nearly lose control of our planet to another 'benevolent' race of aliens a year ago? Why are we suddenly bringing in a whole pack of them and trusting them to make a base on our moon?!"

"Mr Godfrey," Goro took the stand. "Though I and those accompanying me from Mars were not present at the time of the Reach Invasion, we completely understand your reservations about inviting off world cultures to your home. But Mars too has been targeted by the Reach in the past, and we only wish to avert another invasion to either planet. If anything happens to threaten either world as the Reach did, Earth and Mars should always know that they will have a trusted friend to call on. In addition this will also allow for safe, limited interaction between our worlds to allow us to...I believe you would call it 'warm up to one another'."

Godfrey huffed and crossed his arms. "And what about those of us who don't want to 'warm up' just after we barely averted another alien invasion?"

The Manhunter stepped in. "There will be no more questions at this time. Thank you for your time." Both Martians slowly lifted into the air and flew away.

"Oh and there they go, flying off with their super powers. Wasn't enough that we have just a few that can do that but now we have a couple hundred of them!" Godfrey called out. "What's next, a bloody time share!?" He looked to his camera. "I don't know about you, my fellow people, but so far the galaxy has been giving us plenty of reason to fear our so called neighbors and benevolent alien races. When will you wake up and realize that until Earth becomes the big boy on the black, everybody is going to want a piece of us?!"

The footage returned to the original news anchor, who wrapped up the report to move on to something about the government unveiling something in response to the recent skirmish between the Justice League and the Light. Nathan turned off the TV and looked at his team mates as the near twenty gathered heroes within the room initiate a collection of hushed and worried conversations.

"Great, so Gordon is up to his usual 'Anti Hero' rants even after his propaganda almost handed the planet over to the Reach in the first place." Rose said as she set herself down next to Nathan and Victor. She was no longer wearing her helmet, and her hair was let out of its pony tail to hang loosely. The teenager laced her fingers together, set her elbows on her thighs and leaned forward a bit as she observed the screen. "It's odd that there are no reports about the recent clashes that almost literally rocked the entire planet."

"The government is likely censoring those reports. Superman and Captain Atom went down to the Pentagon Zeta Tube a while ago and we haven't heard anything since." The Flash, garbed in his crimson and gold outfit said as he stopped next to the couch, his cowl hiding most of his expression. "But we'll be hearing about the last few days pretty soon, trust me. Everybody knows about it, they probably just don't know it was happening worldwide at once; the UN doesn't want them to think that the super villains are forming one huge army to start an actual war."

Rose brushed her hair back. "Foolish. The internet is the least secure and most accessible tool on the planet; it will allow the world to realize that hundreds of super villains just organized a single attack. What will they gain by hiding it besides a little time?"

"Just that: time; time to create something in response." The Flash replied grimly. "Speaking of which, I need to go. The Founders are gathering in the command center. If you hear anything from Bats, he's running any upcoming missions out of the secondary control room." With that, the speedster became a blur of red that shot out of the room, passing between the heroine beauties known as Fire and Black Canary.

"I think I'd rather just head back home," Nathan muttered as he stood up. "My family is probably worried sick about me and I'm not exactly needed badly up here."

"Go out there alone?" Victor looked at Nathan like he had just made an idiotic statement. "Are you nuts man? What if Gotham gets hit again?" He got up and began to follow his team mate. "You should at least ask-"

"I asked Zatanna for permission. She wrote off on it and said that as long as I stay in contact with her while she takes over watching Gotham for Bats tonight I can stay until morning." Nathan interrupted Victor while stopping to turn and talk to him face to face. "Vic, I'm just worried for them is all. Ever since I got into being All-Star, my biggest fear has been that Robert up and told the whole super villain community about who I am and who our family is. I'm surprised that my house wasn't flattened, and I'd rather be back there in case anything really does happen."

Rose got off of the couch and walked over, stepping between them. "In that case, take a couple friends with you. That way if something does happen you'll at least have some help."

"Are you proposing a sleepover, Rose?" Nathan smiled and raised one brow at the proposal, giving Rose a knowing look.

Her expression remained blank, cold and unflinching. "I'm suggesting that you choose who you want to stay over tonight before I make sure you have to sleep over in the infirmary up here tonight."

"Noted!" Nathan nodded, holding his hands up defensively. "Alright, alright. Either of you want to come along?"

Victor shook his head. "I've got to stay up here; when I go to sleep at night I have to hook my body up to the Data Core Chamber. It helps to retain my current memories and personality; if I don't then I..." He sighed. "I start to feel and act less human after a while. It's a flaw in my design...part of my brain was replaced with cybernetics that are partially sentient, but see regular emotion and thoughts as a distraction from what I've perceived as my primary purpose: to help others."

"Wait, seriously?" Nathan looked up at the sullen Victor, speaking quietly to avoid drawing attention from the rest of the heroes occupying the lounge. "I...I didn't know, man."

"Not a lot of people outside of a few members of the League and STAR Labs do. They don't want to concern people that I might one day become a cold killing machine who will blast a hole through a shop lifter or rip off a super villain's head." Cyborg explained as all three of them moved their conversation to the corridor outside. "It's like a reboot of my personality. It resets what the cybernetics are dong to affect my mind and then reloads my current memories so that I don't end up with a case of amnesia."

"To put it simply: Victor's out." Rose said, but despite her unsympathetic tone she set a hand on Victor's shoulder. "I know how it feels to want to hold on to feelings like that, Victor. Under my father, I struggled to do the same; you are right to value them."

This moment of empathy from the feared Ravager surprised Victor. "Thanks Rose." Then he set one hand on her shoulder, and the other on Nathan's. He shoved the two together. "Thank you for also volunteering to go to Nathan's slumber party tonight!"

"It isn't a slumber party," Nathan grumbled while Rose sighed and wiggled her way out of Cyborg's grip.

"All the same, I might as well stay over. I hate sleeping up here in space," Rose said, pausing by a window as she looked down at the Earth. "A coffin of metal and glass floating in a void? Give me a regular safe house down on Earth where I have solid ground beneath my feet and non-recycled air."

"Actually the air is also produced from that big garden that Wonder Woman is populating with trees from Themyscira and Supes keeps bringing alien plants to." Nathan corrected Rose, only for her to silence him with a glare. "Aaaaaand I'll have mom unfold the couch. Let's get a third and head on down."

"I am curious to see what these 'slumber parties' are," A disembodied voice made the three members of Echo Team look around, startled momentarily before Cyborg's left eye began to glow red.

"Leh'yon," Victor said before the White Martian decloaked himself to show his now 'humanized' form. Ms Martian had given him a crash course in improving his ability to disguise himself as a human. Now the young White Martian had the appearance of a young male of around sixteen with dark and finely combed hair with red eyes and snow white skin. After a moment his skin went from albino to fair, and his red eyes became blue.

"What do you think?" Leh'yon asked, floating cross legged in front of the trio. He was wearing a set of dark blue jeans and a black polo shirt that fit his slender yet toned body. "M'gann kept me at it until I could retake this form perfectly."

"Nice! You don't even look like a TV actor," Nathan observed, nodding his approval. "So you're really here to stay?"

"Indeed! While the other Martians work on the promised lunar colony, I will be partaking in missions with the team." Leh'yon nodded. "Oh, and my human name!" He pulled a wallet out of his back pocket and unfolded it. The wallet only held a few cards to serve as his photo ID. "Leonard White."

Victor snickered. "Now that's the name of a perfectly harmless and normal guy."

"How about Leon for short?" Nathan offered.

"Leon?" Leh'yon tilted his head while Rose glanced over at Nathan.

"...the name of my favorite character in Resident Evil," The dark haired youth admitted. "...what? At least he doesn't take steroids like you just know Redfield does!"

"I like it," Leh'yon said while setting himself down on his feet. "Leon, yes!" He smiled. "Thank you, All-Star."

"Call me Nathan," Nathan replied, offering Leon a hand. "Only in public though, never while we're in our hero outfits."

Leon shook his hand, presumably having been taught by either TV or Ms Martian about basic Earth customs. "Speaking of which," He floated up again, and his clothes began to meld into his skin, reshaping into a black body suit with a dark blue coat and hood similar to what the Martian Manhunter and Ms Martian wore. "What do you think of my hero outfit? J'onn insisted that if I'm going to help you in tracking Intergang, I must have a way of hiding my human identity."

"It looks good on you Lee," Victor complimented. "Come on over to the training room with me and Daemon after you get back; Ms M wants to test you in a combat simulation along with teaching you some of Echo's team based manoeuvres." He glanced at Rose and Nathan. "Until then you three enjoy Nathan's slumber party."

"It is not a-Oh I give up." Nathan turned and stormed away. "I'll meet you at the Zeta-Tube in half an hour. I have to make a stop somewhere!"

Rose watched him go, shutting her one good eye as a sigh escaped her lips. "He's going to visit his brother."

Xxx

9:58 PM, April 7th, 2017

Watch Tower, Brig

Due to the extreme and unusual nature of the Meta Human known as Solar Storm, he was being detained with the supervision of several UN appointed officers until proper restraints could be devised in a government facility. Robert Shepherd was being kept within a basic cell and had a power suppression collar around his neck keyed to the basic Martian abilities along with his own radiation based powers. He hadn't yet been changed into an orange jumpsuit, and was standing by the blue barrier of energy preventing him from exiting the cell.

Several men with rifles were currently guarding the lone convict. Each of them was forbidden from exiting the cell block without an escort from the Justice League to prevent them from accidently gleaming the identity of one of the members or associates. When complaints were made, Superman reminded the soldiers that a good deal of the heroes on the Watch Tower called it their home and the place where they could be themselves. After a few more minutes the soldiers were guilted into quieting down about how they would have to stand being babysat just for taking a stroll to stretch their legs.

Nathan, changed into his All-Star attire-minus his equipment to save on time stepped up to the US Marines guarding the doors of the cell block. "All-Star," He held up his ID badge. "Authorization: E-Zero-One. I'm visiting the prisoner, and because of the sensitive information that will be exchanged once I turn on the speakers I need your men to remain outside the cell block."

The Sergeant in charge of the single team of marines furrowed his brow at the young hero. "That's an unacceptable security risk you're asking me to allow, son."

"I have Batman's authorization to visit him." All-Star insisted. "...I could call him up to verify that if you wish."

The Sergeant clearly did not want to deal with the Dark Knight, because the moment the boy proposed talking to him the man backed off. "Let him in men, and empty the hall." The soldiers shuffled out, letting All-Star stroll through and stand in front of Solar Storm's cell. The doors shut, and the brothers were left alone.

All-Star reached over and turned on the speaker within the cell using a panel with a control for volume. "Hello, Robert."

"Eyyy Nate!" Solar Storm greeted him casually. "Back in the pajamas again? Well then again our outfits look kind of similar besides a few decoration differences so I shouldn't be talking." He walked up to the field, separated from All-Star by inches. "So, let me guess: You're going to give me the usual conversation that goes on in every TV show where the big hero meets his criminal relation and has a talk about how wrong their actions were or about how mom and dad miss me."

"No, actually...but yeah, mom and dad miss you." All-Star replied with a nod. "And...mom sent me a text just a few hours ago when I finally got a chance to talk to her." He took a moment before continuing. "She's pregnant, Rob. Just four weeks in but...we have a little brother or sister on the way." All-Star shrugged. "Just thought you should know."

Solar Storm slowly clapped his hands. "My heart strings. You've pulled at them." He stopped and sighed as his smile disappeared. "...good for them." His voice no longer sounded amused.

"Robert, they still want you to come home." All-Star said. "You're still a part of our family, you're still their son and you're still my brother. We have a new family member coming in who I think should get to know their big brother." He crossed his arms. "You have a chance to get out of this, Robert. You haven't killed anybody-"

"That you know of," Solar Storm corrected. "But I'm just throwing that out there, don't quote me on it." He picked up the metal chair in the cell and carried it over, setting it down for him to sit in front of the barrier. "The Light had me very busy. When you have a guy who most of the League's heavy hitters can't take alone, you can expect that man to go on a lot of missions. No assassinations to say but...things happen and my powers are quite...unhealthy to any organic being." He smirked. "Would mom and dad want me back if they knew I'd killed plenty of people? That I'm just a criminal?"

All-Star winced at the last sentence, knowing that his brother had quoted that part from the last conversation that they had before Robert Shepherd had rushed off with the Black Mask to begin his criminal career in full...just after All-Star had stopped him from incinerating a whole train station full of innocent people. He had shouted that word at Robert when he tried to justify his actions.

"I'm trying to make a name for myself Nate. I don't want to grow up just to go through some overblown school, get a piece of paper that tells me that I did well and take some dead end job. I'm aiming a lot higher than that Nate; I'm going to get there with my own two hands, and if you weren't so scared to use that power you have you'd see where it is!"

"I see where you're going Rob. I saw it when you tried to bring down the roof on top of those people. You're going to jail, Rob."

"You're going to arrest your big brother-"

"I'm arresting a criminal who is trying to kill people for kicks!"

"...Maybe." All-Star replied. "...I'm sorry for calling you that, by the way...for what it's worth."

"Don't apologize to me Nate; it makes you sound pathetic." Solar Storm said with a shake of his head. "But...you were right, I was trying to kill those people for some insane thrill. You could say The Light kind of...gave me a way to focus that rage of mine." The older Shepherd smirked. "I know: it doesn't show much. But ask yourself this Nate, how did a kid working for a regional crime lord end up in the employment of the Light? They don't grab every meta-human off of the streets; there is a certain criteria that has to be met and a process that has to be followed. And you NEVER apply for the Light, they find you and make an offer."

"What are you trying to tell me, Rob?" All-Star asked.

"I'm telling you how the Light recruit people, Nate." Solar Storm replied. "If you find the incoming Light candidates, you cut off their source of recruits." He leaned forward. "As to why I'm telling you...I don't like the competition. And if you actually succeed at following up on this I might even be sent to sort it out and get paid enough to finally stuff my mattress full of one hundred dollar bills."

The slightly older teen stood up and dragged his chair away from the energy door. "But hey, it's all your choice Nate! Either way I'm just going to take it easy in here!" He waved one hand lazily in farewell and then planted the chair, sitting down on it facing away from All-Star with his arms draped over the back and his chin resting on top of his crossed forearms. "Have fun playing hero out there."

Xxx

10:23 PM, April 7th, 2017

Watchtower, Control Center

"Why is she here?" Rose asked, gesturing to Nebula Girl (AKA: Aurora Winters) as the younger member of Echo accompanied Nathan towards the Zeta Tube where she and Leon were waiting in their civilian attire.

"I live on the Watchtower, and it's driving me nuts." Aurora said, her sun glasses covering her eyes and her cane in hand to keep up her cover as a blind girl. "Nate told me on his way up here that he'd be having a sleep over at his place, so I asked him if I could tag along."

"It's not-" Nathan clamped his mouth shut, seeing no point in arguing with his team over this. "Never mind."

"I for one am very glad!" Leon said as he stopped floating in mid air, posed in a sitting position with his legs crossed. "We did not get to truly acquaint ourselves before, Nebula Girl. My human name is Leon White."

"A pleasure, Leon," Aurora replied with a smile. "Soy Aurora." She introduced herself, briefly converting back to her rare use of Spanish. "I have my own stuff packed if we're all ready to go." She patted her back pack. "You'll have to pretend to help guide me through the city until we get to Nathan's house. The Atom still can't figure out how to make a contact lens to cover my eyes and make them look normal."

"We will be glad to help," Leon said. "Or...pretend to help, as you put it."

"Be safe, all of you," Ms Martian said as she floated over to the controls and began to type in the coordinates for the Gotham Academy Zeta Tube. "Give us a while Nathan, and we'll know if Robert told anybody of your identity. If he has, the League will do everything to keep your family safe." As the Zeta Tube lit up, she then enveloped Leon in a hug and sent him a telepathic message. Good luck, little one. I know that you will enjoy Earth after you see how it really feels to live there.

I sense it will be a far sight more pleasant than that Intergang prison. Leon admitted, returning the hug before the two Martians parted and the younger joined the other three teens as they stepped into the Zeta Tube.

"Recognized: All-Star, E01. Ravager, E04. Nebula Girl, E06. Martian Knight, E07." The Zeta Tube lit up as each stepped into it and vanished.

Xxx

10:54 PM, April 7th, 2017

Gotham City, Shepherd Residence

"You're all welcome to come over whenever you like, as long as we can have an advanced warning so we can prepare." Charles Shepherd said as he finished unfolding the couch in the spacious living room, which also had a few sleeping bags set out in it for the four teens. "And thank you for coming here just to keep an eye on us."

"Would Robert have really put us in danger like that?" Maria asked, a worried look on her face.

"We don't know, but this is purely just in case." Rose explained. "In a short time the League will have an answer, and if he did then precautions will be taken. If he did not, for whatever reason then the League will still keep one eye open. Having a..." She was about to say 'criminal' only for a pointed look by Nathan to make her change her mind. "Having a member of The Light for a relative is always problematic."

"I'm sorry if Robert hurt you at all," Charles said, finishing setting out a blanket on the unfolded couch. "...sometimes I still think that if we'd paid more attention all those years ago, Robert wouldn't have turned out the way he did."

"Dad, don't start this again." Nathan said as he finished unrolling his sleeping bag and stood up. "Robert made his decision when he got his powers. You weren't a terrible father, he just made a bad decision. He has to live with it now, no matter how much we wish otherwise."

"I know son," Charles nodded. "You kids can stay up as late as you want to, but I'm not dragging you all out of bed if you end up sleeping until the afternoon." He smirked, recalling one day when Nathan had stayed up until 8 AM watching movie only to fall asleep until 4 PM, missing school entirely that day. That, along with being grounded for a week had taught him never to try that on a school night again.

"Thanks dad," Nate said with a forced smile before Charles left the room with an amused grin, Maria close behind.

"I like your parents," Aurora said, already slipping under the covers on the bed, which she and Leon were going to share. "And I can't wait to see your little sister when she's born."

"Me neither," Nathan said while searching through the entertainment unit for a DVD to watch. "...wait, sister?" He glanced back at Aurora. "Aurora, my mom's only a few weeks pregnant; we don't know the gender-"

The house rumbled for several seconds, the vibrations getting strong enough that they heard a plate shatter in the kitchen. Nathan caught the TV when it almost fell off, and after setting it back on its base he sighed. "Okay wow...Gotham has never had an earthquake, and the one time it does it almost breaks the very big an expensive..." He saw a glow through the windows and walked over. "TV..."

The glow was coming from the massive sky scrapers of Gotham City's downtown district. It was a singular source lighting up the whole of the city from its very heart. "Guys...we might want to call Batman."

Xxx

11:04 PM, April 7th, 2017

Watch Tower, Ops Center

"I know," Batman responded to the news that something was happening in his home city. "And I already tried to use the Zeta Tube. Something has damaged the main circuitry," He glanced up at the massive slice along the inside of the Zeta Tube, which somehow had been occupied by an individual who was not listed as an authorized user yet had not even alerted those in the Ops Center that it had been occupied. The gash was several feet deep, and the other Zeta Tubes had similar damage along their interiors. "We have a breach up here, and this event may be connected to it."

"Can't you take a Javelin down? Or have Dr Fate or Zatanna teleport you?" Nathan asked.

"I've already contacted them. As soon as they are available they will bring reinforcements to Gotham." Batman assured the young hero as he walked to the center of the Ops Center to where AquaLad and Tigress stood. "But Robin is in Gotham on patrol. Contact and regroup with him, and assess the nature of this event. Do not attack unless challenged with hostility, supposing this is even a living being causing this."

"We'll head over. Echo out." Nathan hung up.

Batman stared at the live footage of the heart of the glow, showing that a single sphere of light had appeared over Gotha. "Computer, light filtration interface." He held his hands out and began to carefully filter out the glaring light until he could see more clearly...

And saw a single figure within the light.

"What are you?" He whispered.

Xxx

11:13 PM, April 7th, 2017

Gotham Skyline

"You have got to be kidding me!" Rose, decked out in her Ravager outfit grumbled as Leh'yon carried her through the air, gripping her hands as she hung under him. "The League has twice as many heroes as there usually are and they can't send even one down here?!" She had to shout over the winds as the heroes flew towards Gotham.

"The entire League won't mobilize for every single threat," All-Star pointed out, being held in a similar way by Nebula Girl. "Besides, Bats said he'd have the League send down a couple Javelins as soon as refuelling and repairs are done on one of them!" The League possessed exactly fifteen Javelins besides the one owned by Echo, and so far all but a few were damaged from running rescue efforts worldwide while the rest were assigned to other missions by now.

"Look on the bright side Ravager, this could be a good chance to help us coordinate as a team!" Leh'yon said encouragingly. "Shall I telepathically link us so that we don't have to shout?!"

"Yes! Do it! PLEASE!" All-Star shouted.

You don't need to shout. Leh'yon said, his words heard clearly and in the minds of the other three members. My, Nebula Girl I am finding it hard to send a clear signal to you. It feels so...chaotic in your mind.

I'll tell you about it in detail after we're done. Nebula Girl promised as they dipped down towards the center of Gotham.

I doubt that very much, Child. A voice, soothing in tone yet carrying a feeling of dread interrupted the conversation. Nebula Girl gasped and wobbled a bit before accidently dropping All-Star.

"Whoa-ahhhhh!" All-Star flailed and loaded his wrist mounted crossbow, which was attached to his grappler module. He fired a bolt up through a window of a building marked as a bank and swung down into the street where he released the cable and rolled several feet on his side. Ravager landed, not much more gracefully than her male companion. Up above, Leh'yon was clutching his head and groaning as he tried to remain air born. Nebula Girl on the other hand had regained control and was helping to steady him as he recovered from whatever had infiltrated their telepathic link.

You should know something about me before you all die. The intruding presence informed them through Leh'yon. I am a hunter. I seek prey of a great variety and hunt them on all planes, corporeal or mental. And this...

At the same time that a blast of pure mental force struck Leh'Yon's consciousness, a blast of energy consumed the thankfully abandoned street of Gotham. The road crumbled before it as stone and metal shot up into the air.

Is just the tip of the ice berg.

"Full back!" All-Star shouted. "Everybody fall back!" He had turned and was rushing away from the approaching wave of energy. "Echo-1 to League, Echo-1 to league! We are under attack, repeat we are-"

Then he was consumed, and a second later so was Ravager just as Nebula Girl dove down to offer her a hand to lift the girl to safety. Then Nebula Girl herself along with Leh'yon, who was hanging limply from her other hand were enveloped in the golden wall of light that had torn up the down town street. As soon as all four heroes faded into it, the wave of power vanished as quickly as one flicked a light switch.

The street was silent once more. The light shrunk down into a humanoid form that stood as tall as ten feet. It had two arms and two legs, and its head resembled a man wearing a horned helmet. In one hand the Huntsman held a spear made of a starry material similar to his skin, and in the other the golden energy shrunk down into a little orb until it had compressed itself to the size of a base ball. He closed his hand around it, his starry skin glittering in the night time environment.

"It is done," His voice sounded like numerous human men speaking at once. "The first champions are chosen, and the hunt begins."

He turned his head to the sky, seeing a single Javelin flying down towards his position. "Your time will come later...for now these children you call heroes will prove themselves." His body lit up like a sun, and then it shot up into the air, leaving behind a now melted section of street and lighting up the skyline of Gotham before it finally vanished into the stars above.

The Javelin's canopy had automatically filtered out the worst of the light, allowing Batman and those on board to avoid being blinded by the intense light of the Huntsman's escape. The cape and cowl clad crusader clenched his teeth as he brought the ship down and opened the exit hatch. Half a dozen other members of the League: Firestorm, Captain Atom, Hawkman and Hawk Woman, Rocket and Blue Beetle took to the air while Batman, Batgirl, Hawk and Dove approached the site of the Huntsman's transformation and subsequent escape.

"Intense radiation around the site of the attacker's uh...take off." Batgirl said, holding a portable scanner. "But it seems confined to the point of ignition and is fading fast...way too fast."

"Call the Watch Tower," Batman ordered. "We have four operatives missing and the target is beyond the range of our terrestrial asset. Tell the Green Lanterns to run a sweep of the Solar System once they finish their current assignments. Call Guy Gardner if you have to, just find out where it went!" He was doing his best not to appear aggravated, but with an unknown force attacking Gotham and destroying most of a street...and likely most of the newly formed Echo Team it was hard for even the Dark Knight to keep his cool.

Batgirl bit her lip as she nodded and turned away. "I hope they're alright..."

Xxx

11:54 PM, April 7th, 2017

Watch Tower, Ops Center

"They're not dead." AquaLad was all too glad to make this report to Batman when the Watch Tower's sensors finished creating an analysis of the site where Echo had disappeared. "The energy wave was sending out a radiation signature reminiscent of Zeta radiation prior to the target's escape. After that the target briefly released a sudden burst of solar radiation."

"So it relocated Echo," Batman, sitting in the cockpit of the Javelin as he overlooked the site. Hundreds of citizens had returned to the area and were being held back by police, snapping pictures of the site and the heroes investigating it. "The questions are 'why' and 'where'."

"What about 'how'?" Superboy asked, standing next to Kal'dur. "That thing didn't have any technology that our sensors could pick up. It manually manipulated Zeta Radiation, and Zeta Beams need a point of origin and a destination in order to function properly."

"We can only assume the being itself was the point of origin and was able to manipulate the Zeta Beam, selecting a destination of its own." Kal'dur said. "We can only hope they were sent to an environment where they can survive."

"I'm bringing the Atom down to examine the site." Batman decided. "Contact Dr Strange and have him return to Earth as soon as convenient. His expertise will be invaluable and free up our resources-" The Dark Knight paused. "What in the..." He was getting up when the transmission was cut.

"Batman?" Kal'dur tried to re-establish contact. "Batman, come in."

A new face appeared on the holographic screen. "Attention Justice League. You will cease communications with Site EE-094 or face charges by the United Nations."

"Who is this?" Superboy demanded. "Where is Batman?"

"He and his compatriots are being escorted off sight," The image cleared to show a disturbing image of a red skinned being... "And I am Major Force, senior commanding officer present."

The being known as Major Force delivered a wicked grin as he glowed with pure energy. "Do I have to tell you a third time, or should I fly up there myself and blow a hole in your fancy watch tower? Get with the picture kid, The Authority has control of this site now."

Xxx

End of chapter