Oh my god, oh my god you guys!
I have TEN Followers on this thing? TEN? I LOVE YOU PEOPLE!
We're also over 20,000 words-kickin' ass here!
Anyway, here's the next chapter; I'm sorry about the, I got a little distracted, watching too much bad anime and all that.
Dawn was just breaking through the trees when Ivan Fries reached the tree-village, nestled deep within the heart of the forest, it appeared. He wore some sort of high tech cryogenics suit, his face covered by a silver mask that appeared to operate as some sort of breathing apparatus. Still, his blue eyes were visible as feathers fluttered above him, and a helmeted, winged young man landed before him.
"May the Gods of Olympus Rest the Eight." He recited calmly, and the man bowed slightly.
"Welcome, I. Freeze. I'm afraid none of the others are awake or here yet."
"That's not a problem. I just wanted to check in with the database. You can return to your rounds, Hawk." Hawk nodded, and, with a few beats of his wings, was back in the air, soaring up to the tree tops. I. Freeze continued forward, entering an elevator that was cleverly concealed within a tree trunk to reach the canopies that were hidden among the leaves and branches. He navigated the paths and bridges easily, coming to a large tree that he entered by scanning his handprint. Inside was an array of slightly unconventional electronics that were carefully arranged. Most of the wall was given to a large screen that sprang to life when he approached the keyboard, typing in a code. A long list popped up on one side of the screen, a mass of names and other identifications. I. Freeze selected a few as he scrolled, causing them to enlarge on the other side of the screen, complete with a full body projection of the subject. Some of them were recognisable:
Name: Gale Harper
Alias: Sniper II
Location: Star City
Status: Active
...
Name: Megan Kent
Alias: SuperAnima
Location: Metropolis
Status: Active
While others still were not:
Name: Ella Jordan
Alias: Bright Phantom
Location: Earth
Status: Active
...
Name: Greg Allen
Alias: Speedy
Location: Central City
Status: Active
But there were one or two that stood out for a certain reason:
Name: Serena Logan
Alias: SheBeast
Location: Bialya
Status: Deceased
...
Name: Davinia
Alias: Wonder Knight
Location: Themyscera
Status: Deceased
"Looking at it again won't help." Rasped a voice from the door. I. Freeze turned. Framed in the early morning light was a tall, leanly muscled figure in a long, dark purple trench coat.
On his face, however, was a creepy, blood spattered clown mask.
Freeze stepped away from the console. "Mr. J." J came to stand beside him.
"Don't think I haven't tried it. The ones who are dead stay dead, the ones who are alive..." For a moment, they gazed together at the list. "Remember when we first met?" I. Freeze chuckled grimly.
"And I was so concerned about showing this to you." He sighed, continuing to go through the list as they spoke. Helena Kyle-Wayne and Haley Grayson made brief appearances, as did a Jordan Kent whose location was listed as Smallville and his status Inactive. They finally paused over two of the profiles, which I. Freeze zoomed out to split their half of the screen in two:
Name: Giavanna Zatara
Alias: WonderG
Location: Egypt
Status: Active
...
Name: Inza Zatara/Nabu
Alias: Dr. Fate
Location: Unknown
Status: Unknown
"Did WonderG check in?"
"Not yet. Finding Dr. Fate is probably harder than it sounds." Mr. J laughed, and it was rather disturbing.
"Yeah. Nabu's never around when you want him." There was a click behind them that announced a new arrival. A tiny woman in what appeared to be samurai gear with a shiny, blank black mask pulled over her face came over.
"Dr. Strange II says that we're back to square one with the tests." Mr. J sighed.
"Wonderful. We're going to need more samples now, I suppose, Black Mask II?" She merely nodded. He turned away, taking a few paces in the other direction thoughtfully. "Alright. I. Freeze, get in contact with Archer and Sniper II. I want them here as soon as possible." He turned back around. "Also, contact Huntress. Not Nightingale-she's got school. Just Huntress. We'll split into teams. I'll explain when they get here." Both of them went to obey him instantly, shutting off the screen and moving to another part of the room. Lights flared on, and I. Freeze pulled on a pair of headphones. He tapped something into the console, pulling the microphone to his mouth.
"Eye, Arrow, and Dark Lady; your presence is required. I repeat, Eye, Arrow, and Dark Lady; your presence is required." While he finished, Mr. J motioned to Black Mask II, and together they went back outside, heading to another large tree that concealed a meeting room that featured a table in the centre, carved out of the wood of the tree. J collapsed into one of the chairs while the second Black Mask paced around the room, and together they waited.
The sun had climbed slightly higher in the sky when the others arrived, Huntress first, then Archer and Sniper II. When they were all there, Mr. J began with very little ceremony.
"We have yet to make a break through with our research on the gases they're using." The others, scattered around the room, watched him intently. "However, I have recently been informed that we are in need of more samples. I called you here because you're some of our best, because I want this done quickly." He stood. "We'll split into teams. Archer and Sniper II will of course be one-you two will take the Science Centre outside Central City. Archer at least knows the area some. Huntress and I will take the one near Gotham. Any questions?"
"Yeah." Archer said, then raised his hand. "Why are we doing this during the day?"
"Well, first off, we need these samples as soon as possible, and second, we've been doing so many hits at night, they assume that that's when we operate. There'll be less guards, element of surprise and all that." Archer nodded, lowering his hand. Mr. J briefly waited to see if there was anything else, then nodded. "Alright. Off we go."
"You know, I wouldn't mind sleeping through the night once in awhile." Archer muttered as he and Sniper II walked to the edge of the tree-top town.
"You're the one who was complaining about doing this during the day." His companion pointed out. "Besides, you sleep like a log anyway."
"What do you know about how I sleep?" Sniper II just chuckled, making Archer glare at him.
"Don't worry about it. This'll be a good warm up."
"For you, maybe." He eyed the weapon the other man was loading. "How many guns are you planning on bringing, anyway?"
"As many as I need." He flicked the safety back on and tucked the one he held into a holster.
"I think our opinions on that vary." Sniper II shrugged.
"Some people just don't understand. You ready to get going?"
"We taking the bikes?"
"Can't think of a reason not to." They both disappeared behind some dense foliage. Then, there were was a soft purring sound, and two modified motorcycles burst from the undergrowth, streaking along between the trees. Despite both being helmeted, the colour scheme of the bikes was enough to identify which rider was which. They turned in the direction that presumably lead to Central City, and vanished over the horizon.
Mr. J and Huntress did not bother getting wheels. They took a tree elevator down to a mess of tunnels that appeared to have been dug under the hideout. Huntress pulled a small yet industrial light from her belt.
"Are you sure you'll be okay, what with missing work and all?" J asked her quietly. She nodded.
"I have an excuse not to show up. They released a trailer for the movie yesterday. I think the Wayne Enterprises staff will forgive me calling in sick. It's not like we can do much nowadays anyway." They came to a door, and together pulled it open, climbing a set of stone stairs. They came up through a manhole cover in an alley behind what looked like a bar. They both climbed out, dusting themselves off.
"Alright. Getting in should be simple-getting out again will be tricky." She nodded, looking at the sky.
"If it were the old days, I could put in a call to the Falcon, but now..." Mr. J sighed.
"If necessary, we can force our way out." She looked sideways at him.
"J... Don't kill anyone." He laughed eerily.
"Oh, I'm not worried about that. After all, you're here to stop me, aren't you?"
Freeze and Black Mask II stood on one of the bridges overlooking the forest floor.
"So... How was Dr. Strange II?" She shrugged.
"The same as always. He never changes." The man laughed.
"Yes, I suppose that's true." He looked at her. "This must be hard for you. I mean, your parents are-"
"My parents have chosen their side, and I have chosen mine. I dare say it's the same for Dr. Strange II, The Holly Tree, even Mr. J. We're all following our own paths here; we just have to have faith in where they lead us."
"That was very... Philosophical."
"Thank you." She turned away. "I'll go a few rounds, make sure everything's in order. It'd be just like the Joker Soldiers to sneak into the Den while most of us were gone or asleep." He nodded, and she moved off. He stayed there for awhile, gazing at the rising sun.
"Faith in where they lead us, huh. I suppose that's our best bet at the moment." And then he, too, left the bridge.
"They seem to be quite organised." Superman said hopefully. M'gann was comforting Beast Boy and reminding him that none of this was actually happening while the others considered the unfolding events. Wonder Woman was quiet for awhile, bowing her head. Zatanna was staring at the floating form of Dr. Fate. The League put their heads together.
"Nice to know there's still an Allen kicking around." The Flash commented.
"Yes. It seems for the many that have died, the others are still carrying on." The vaguely confusing but deep words came from J'onn.
"So long as they're up to it." Batman growled.
"I think they are." Black Canary put in calmly. "If they've made it this long, they can keep it up."
"Like what Black Mask II said!" Captain Marvel agreed happily. "Have faith in where their path is taking them."
And there we go. I realise I forgot to put the title of this chapter at the bottom of the last one-I shall rectify that.
Next Chapter: 'For Science!'
