It Runs in the Family
(Blow Up)
These equations sure were rather complex, it wasn't impossible, just complicated. Still, April knew there was a way to solve them. Guess this was to be expected, attending such a prestigious university like Stanford. April's eyes look at the equation in her math text of Algebraic Geometry. The Vector Problem was the next equation she needed to finish, along with 20 more others.
Tapping the tip of the pencil on the coffee table to help spark her completion and interest of it. Was doing quite the opposite, feeling her frustrations starting to shimmer. Crumbling and tearing the paper seem like the best thing to do. Then again she'd have to start all over, which only cause her more frustration. Stuck a crossroad, with her mind throbbing from all this thinking. If Donnie was here, he'd be able to solve it with out a second thought, but, he wasn't.
"Need help there April?"
She could hear his voice over her shoulder, peering at her homework with great excitement. He always did get excited when came to solving just about anything. That and he just loved to show off his brilliance. It made her laugh a little at the memory and him. To drop in grievance. Clenching her pencil snaps it as her mind remembers the horror. Shutting her eyes in anger sees it played out again and again in her mind. She could still hear her screaming cries.
Reopening her eyes, it was still there and would forever remain. The knot in her stomach tightens more, looking around at her life now. She felt ashamed. Hanging her eyes low, they shift back up tentatively at the unanswered equations.
Releasing a shuttering sigh, her mind ventures to what weighted the most upon her right now."Be careful, May."
So, May are you doing anything this weekend?"Kid asked, leaning back in his seat of the Super Cycle.
His question was enough to break your distance focus. Looking at him as you and Wonder Girl flew next to the vehicle that provided transportation for Superboy and Robin as well.
"Excuse me?"You respond confused by such a question.
So he repeats himself."I said, are you doing anything this weekend? You know, like the movies? Arcade? Things like that? Shopping even."
You weren't sure why he was asking you all this when the mission should be on everyone's mind right now. Not what side activity one is doing later. "Is that really a question to be asking? At this current time?"
He throws his head and laughs. Slapping his knee."Well, we haven't arrived just yet. Just trying to pass the time. Trying to get know the newest member of the club. So?"Inching a little bit closer. Pressuring you for a response by the way he was looking.
"I read and complete the assignments given by the classes instructor. So, yes I am doing something this weekend and if time permits it, meditation."
Kid didn't say anything back, he just sits back down and gives a nod. To tap Robin on the shoulders giving him the thumbs up, which the teen responds with a nod as well, stopping when he felt your eyes on him."So, ready for your mission?"He asked casually."You're not nervous are you?"
"No. I am not. I have done missions before, a long time ago."You said the last part softly. To quickly perk back up."But, do not worry I shall make sure to stay completely focused."
"Good."Superboy cuts in."Because we're here."
The harbor came into view, it seem early morning, at least threeish or something. Remembering the plan, you and Wondergirl separate as Superboy drove the cycle closer to the water. You watch them, your eyes move to the harbor and see the cargo ships. Nearly done stocking. With the different crates. Armored guards patrolling watchfully. Looking back to the ships, counting at least three it seem to be docked. Which was rather strange because from the report there should have been four. Was the other not here yet?
"Aurora. Wonder girl."Superboy comes in through the ear piece."Get into your position."
Wonder Girl copies and flies away."Hey, let' see who gets the most out of this!"With that grin on like before. What was it that she wanted from you?
Looking back at the cargo ships, something didn't seem right."Superboy, there are only three. When there should be four?"Informing him, doing a double count. Something of that size and mass shouldn't be gone so quickly, at best it should at least be half way down the harbor. But, there was no trace of it.
It was silence on the other end before he responding."Yeah, I know. Just get into position."The transmission ends and you do as he says.
Thankful for all that training on stealth and blending with the shadows from Master Splinter, drop down unseen behind a mountain of crates. Press your back up against it, melding with the shadows. You quickly sense for anyone else coming, there were a few guards approaching so you levitated just a few feet off the ground to be completely concealed. Shutting your bright eyes to not draw attention. The men walk by to stop and give a quick glance finding nothing or no one there. Then proceed. You dare not let out a sigh, it would give away your position. Pushing away carefully from the crates, when you took notice something. Turning back around to the crate, looking at it rather confused. Placing a hand on it, closing your eyes to open them and gasp.
"...What?!"
Kid was able to get Robin inside the office, right away the boy wonder went to work and accessed the computer. Going through its files, when came to a strange encryption.
"This is new."He sits down and goes to work on it. Plugging in his hologram computer to allow further access, Kid stayed on lookout should anyone come. It was a good thing the lights remained off and it was rather easy access to get here.
Still, to make sure he runs around a few times to make sure the place was secure. Coming back."Everything is good. Any luck?"
Robin still working through the files."This doesn't make any sense, how in the world...what is this place? Superboy, it's Robin. There's...there's something-"
"Everyone!"You interrupt in an alarm."The crates! They're-Everyone needs to-"
Static was replaced with your alarming warning, followed by a powerful explosion. That shook the place, Kid and Robin stare wide eyed at the fire before them. Followed by more eruption of explosions. Quickly Robin unplugs and pushes Kid to the ground just as the windows burst and shatter. The flames nearly got them.
"Whoa!"Kid, surprised. Covering his head as more shards fall and debris from the roof beings to fall."We gotta go!"Getting up quickly grabs Robin and the both flee, only to be greeted by the sound of sharp, whirling objects that nearly would have gotten them. If Robin didn't deflect them back with his staff.
Quickly he contacts Superboy."We've got company!"Staring at the four dark clad figures before them, each of them holding a sharp weapon or object. That suddenly became dangerously energized.
The two heroes step back carefully. Kid quickly looks behind him at the wall, their only entrance being blocked. Going back into the office wasn't the idea, as it had collapsed. He could vibrate himself out here with ease, but, he'd leave Robin behind. Thinking of what to do, looking to Robin who too was trying to formulate a plan of escape and defeat.
Those weapons they had, they weren't sure what they could do. Their blockers clearly looked skilled. With both sides standing off and not making a single move, feeling themselves being pressed into the corner, someone had to take the leap and allow the other one to get away. Gripping his staff, Robin gears himself and lunges at them, one of them go to counter. While another one jumps from above to strike from high. He saw them but knew he had to take the one coming at him. Giving Kid the opening needed, yelling for him to run. When someone bulking comes crashing, with enough force to slam the attackers through the walls.
"Come on!"Superboy hollers, giving them a way to escape Robin and Kid take it. While leaving him to handle the others. They reach outside and run through the crates.
Coming across some more men, this time more spread out, but with same weapons. Moving fast Kid manages to evade being sliced. While engaged with one, knocking them back to quickly having to counter another. When they hear the horn of the cargo ships go off. Running to the top of one Kid sees what's going on."Dude! They're leaving! Wait? What?!"
They were moving, just not actually from the harbor, some sort of portal appeared beneath them and they begin to sink."We've got a problem."Kid radios everyone."The ships, they're sinking! I mean something is taking them! I'm heading over!"Taking off knocking one of the men off and speeds over."Oh, no you don't!"
"Move!"You yell, dropping down before him and quickly produce a shield deflecting the surprise attack. Deflecting it back."Are you alright?"Quickly asking him. He was stunned for a second before nodding with a response."Good."You turn your attention back at the enigmatic figure. Completely clad from head to toe in a cloak. Except for a sword in hand and a blast in the other.
They quickly take precise aim and fire, you and Kid separate just in time. By separate you push him off the side. For his safety, he makes a whirlwind with his arms to soften his fall and looks back up just in time to see you get kicked across to the other side.
"I'm coming!"He races back to assist you, to dodge the blast of energy released from you. Tucking and rolling he looks on shocked and impressed. You had the higher ground, dodging the gun fire. Quickly redirecting himself back to assisting you rushes the person from behind.
Sensing him coming, they evade him and deliver a chop to his neck."Kid!"You hurry to him and shot out another energy blast at the attacker, they easily deflect with their blade and rush you. Slashing you. Stopping just in time, the tip just narrowly missing you. Still, you touch your chest to make sure. There were no signs of injury. ""
That was way too close. Kid recovers from the attack, rubbing the back his neck."What-?!"A whirling, charging sound brought him back, whipping his head around just as the trigger was pulled and shot fired a large shadow cast over them. Looking up a crate comes smashing down on the attacker."Whoa!"Someone comes and moves him out the way.
"Kid! Kid Flash! Are you alright?"
It was you, he finds you looking at him for anything."Yeah. I'm good."He said just a bit shaky, you smile relieved."The freighters!"He remembers looking over shoulder, there was one more left."We've got to stop it!"
Understanding, let him down and fly after him across the other crates when a rapid beeping suddenly goes off. Knowing it well, yank Kid back and cover the both of you, just as the crates explode. The whole harbor, the two of you fall into your metal graves. The last ship slowly begins to sink and the enigmatic figure able to escape the explosion jumps onto it, turns around at the devastation and buried enemies.
The dust begins to settle and all that was left of the harbor was nothing but blown and scrapped metal. Cranes bent and melted. The warehouse in a pile of debris, the sound of sirens in the distance approaching. Emergency on their way. Along all rubble, a fist burst through and begins to pull themselves out. Superboy climbs out from under everything, with no injuries except to his clothes. Heaving for air, that attack took him by surprise. Beginning to look around for the rest of his team, finding nothing but a wasteland.
"Guys? Guys?! It's Superboy?"He tries to contact them, earning static as a response. He tries again while searching, that he didn't notice what lightly surrounded him."Wonder Girl? Kid Flash? Robin? Aurora? Come in? Someone come i-"
"Nah...Ahhh!"Wonder Girl emerges, shaking some bits out of her hair."Man, that was not expected."Seeing a shadow over her, she quickly looks up finding Superboy with his hand out. Taking it he pulls her out."Thanks. Hey? Why are you glowing?"
Looking down he notices it and was just as surprised. Before he could answer Robin emerges, Wonder Girl waste no time and goes to help him."Are you okay?"Her voice much tender, looking him over. Helping him dust off.
He nods assuring he was. Noticing the faint glow around her, which made him look down at himself finding same golden-yellow glow."Wait? Where's Kid Flash and Aurora?"
The mention of their names, Superboy and Wonder Girl look around finding no trace of them."Aurora! Kid Flash!"Superboy yells, ignoring the approaching sirens. He calls out for them again and again. After tending to Robin, he and Wonder Girl join in and search for their missing teammates. Spreading out to cover more ground.
Wonder Girl took to beating the rubble, throwing it aside to dig. Finding nothing. This wasn't good, their comlink wasn't responding. Meaning they were either too deep or the worst of the worst. They not let that cross their minds and kept looking. Wonder Girl gives the debris another solid punch when the ground shook back. Stopping slowly walks back as it shook again and a bright light expands upward. Blasting straight up, she moves back along with the force it caused.
Crossing her arms in front of her to minimize the effect."Guys!"She calls to the others. They turn and see. Wasting no time rushing over, reaching it just as it stops. Superboy jumps down without a second thought into the hole, just as emergency arrives.
Wonder Girl and Robin look and see them coming."I've got them."She tells him about to rush off when Superboy comes back out with Kid and you, encased in an energy sphere. You had him tucked under you protectively, your back exposed. Setting the sphere down and it dissolves. Robin using his computer checks vitals, finding the two find.
"They're good. Just knocked out from the blast."He informs Superboy. Who's shoulders drop relieved to hear that."We should get going though."He gestures to the approaching emergency.
"Yeah."Superboy agrees and calls Wonder Girl over, he scoops up on while she does the other. Calling for Super Cycle who comes, they all get in and leave.