Author's Notes;
Sorry for the delay everyone! It's been two and a bit months but here it is- better late then never I suppose!
Yeah, anyway, I hope everyone's doing well and enjoy's the following chapter!
Disclaimer: I still don't own Young Justice- even after Christmas last year... Oh well.
HERE'S THE CHAPTER ANY-WHOOO~!
Chapter ten;
Mount Justice
Friday 16th February 2016
09:58 (9:58am)
"Night- err I mean, Renegade! Check out this super cool alien souvenir I got from Rimbor!" Gar yelled, almost stumbling as he ran up to Batman, Captain atom, Aqualad and Renegade.
The heroes and assassin were currently standing in the briefing room, the vigilantes discussing their next move, while Renegade sifted through the files on his wrist computer once more, reading more of the articles regarding his civilian life.
Renegade looked up from his screen at the challenging with the traces of a small smile, noting the sash in his hand. Scanning the room, the male also noted M'gann following shortly behind, along with Connor and Dr Strange. The Martian had a grim look on her face, shaking her head at the challenging's antics- presumably scolding the young hero mentally.
Returning his attention to his holo-computer, Renegade's fingers danced across the small keyboard- the ebony narrowing his eyes at a still frame of a video labelled 'for B', depicting Dick dressed as Nightwing, smiling sadly at the screen. Huh, how long's that been there?
"The Krolotean's zeta platforms on Rann have been neutralized." M'gann reported as the group came to a halt, directing her attention to Batman. Batman nodded at the information before Dr Strange held out a controller of sorts, addressing the group of heroes.
"I've also brought back specs from Rann to create a Zeta Shield to prevent any more aliens from beaming to Earth from off world."
"Will that not affect our Zeta technology?" Aqualad inquired, crossing his arms as he spoke.
Strange shook his head quickly, a smile on his lips as he spoke "That's the great thing; it won't! The shield will activate in altitude above the Watchtower's orbit, so our Zeta Tubes will continue functioning normally."
"Tell them about Rimbor!" Beast Boy said excitedly, tugging on M'gann's arm as he did. "Tell them about-"
"-The missing sixteen hours?"
All heads snapped towards Renegade, the assassin not bothering to look up from his screen at the accusing glares.
"You know about that?" Captain Atom growled, narrowing his eyes at the former hero.
"I was only able to accumulate a small amount of information regarding it while Mast- Deathstroke- was preoccupied with a ...client.
I intended to gather more before the whole 'fractured-mind-thing' took place. The experience was rather disastrous, heavy on the dis. So, excuse me if the information slipped my mind." This time the 19-year-old did look up as he spoke with a tone of annoyance, a familiar spark flickering in his masked eyes for a moment.
Batman cocked an eyebrow, noticing the sudden switch in his son's voice and the familiar play on words, along with that familiar spark of…
…Rebellion.
Things like this were becoming more and more frequent since Wally's encounter with his former friend a couple days ago, the ebony resembling something close to what he used to be in those moments. The teen's small outbursts gave both a Wally and Bruce hope that Bart was wrong about his supposed death, however the two kept the information to themselves, not wanting to raise any alarm.
Renegade seemed to notice the shocked faces around him as suddenly his demeanour changed once again. The ebony lowered his head, averting eye contact with the rooms occupants as he spoke.
"Sorry, I didn't mean to… mouth off."
"Do not apologies my friend, we are all entitled to our own sentiments…"
However, it was too late; Dick once again went back to looking utterly detached- something Batman still couldn't get used to. His eyes were cold and empty behind the black domino mask, the most heart-wrenching part being that Bruce couldn't read them; those eyes that used to convey so much with only a glance.
"Miss Martian… please continue…" Captain Atom asked, crossing his arms with a sigh.
The Martian nodded, replying with "it may be easier if I show you…"
"You didn't have to come along… either of you."
"I think we did" Connor replied harshly as he, Miss Martian and Renegade followed Batman into a plain, grey room; the only notable feature being the one-way mirror showing the interrogation room Renegade had formerly been contained to.
Renegade ignored the former couple's bickering as he stared intently through the mirror, his jaw clenching at the sight of Martian Manhunter mentally interrogating a Krolotean.
"This is the Krolotean captured by Lagoon Boy, Robin and Beetle?" M'gann asked the Dark Knight, Connor frowning.
"Indeed. Your uncle has been interrogating him for days… but simply achieving psychic translation has proven difficult… In the meantime, the Team and the League have hunted the Kroloteans that have been masquerading as humans but all have escaped capture."
M'gann seemed to ignore Batman as he spoke, Connor taking an alarmed step forward as her eyes began to glow green- the Krolotean appearing to stare through the one-way mirror directly at her. After a few more moments of silently staring, the Krolotean suddenly began hissing and frothing at the mouth before going limp in the wooden chair it sat on.
"After your success on Rann, captain Atom thought you might be of some assistance-"
Martian Manhunter turned, eyes narrowed at his niece as she turned to Batman, proudly interrupting him, "The Kroloteans have an emergency rendezvous point at have standing orders in-case of discovery to evacuate there. It's a base inside a volcano on Malina Island."
Connor's face morphed into anger as she spoke, the hero about to shout, however the words caught in his throat at the sound of the door softly 'swishing' shut- the rooms occupants turning to find Renegade gone.
The three heroes looked at each other for a moment before M'gann flew after the assassin, a gloved hand on Connor's shoulder stopping him from doing the same.
"Renegade, wait!"
The mercenary continued to ignore the Martian girl hovering helplessly behind him, instead glancing at Robin and Wonder Girl as the two sparred. Absent-mindedly noting the way his younger brother purposely ignored some of his opponent's openings, Renegade made his way past the team's training session with little interest. Making his way into yet another hallway, the former leader clentching his fists as M'gann tried once again to call to him mentally.
Miss Martian huffed, finally losing patience with her former team leader.
"Renegade!"
Said assassin turned sharply to the still floating woman, his eyes narrowed dangerously behind the white lenses of his mask.
"Don't you dare do anything like that ever again."
"What?! I- I got the intel the League needed. What's the issue?"
"You actually need to ask me that question M'gann?"
"I don't-" M'gann's words caught in her throat as she realised what Renegade meant, guilt immediately flashing across her features.
"You of all people should realise-"
"…Renegade, I am so sorry,"
"-that you have no right to… to… toy with someone's mind like that..." Renegade drifted off for a moment, his angry tone returning as he continued, "Never again; Are. We. Clear."
M'gann nodded silently, shrinking back from the hidden eyes shaking the alien to her core. Without another word, Renegade turned on his heel, feeling a different, colder, and most certainly subtler presence trying to enter his mind.
Malina Island
Friday 16th February 2016
19:10 (7:10 pm)
Renegade dropped silently into the Krolotean base, with Batgirl and Robin following swiftly behind, before darting to the left to stick to the shadows. The assassin watched as Kroloteans worked cranes and blow torches in an attempt to build what could only be a space craft.
Sparing a glance to the caves other entrance- the water- the ebony inwardly growled in annoyance as one of Black Manta's men aimed his weapon at the submerged forms of Lagoon Boy, Aqualad and Aquaman.
"We have been compromised!" He heard Aqualad yell as the three Atlantians dodged a red laser beam sent their way. Immediately, all hell broke loose as heroes dropped from the ceiling, fazed through walls and jumped out closed doors, a firefight following suit.
Renegade grunted as he swung himself up onto a higher platform- kicking one of Manta's men as he did. Batgirl smirked as her fist connected with another soldier's mask, shattering it as she did.
"We've missed working with you," she said as the ebony ducked under a punch before delivering a quick and powerful blow to another soldier's side.
Renegade nodded in response with a small grin, throwing a shuriken at a soldier's gun, the thug about to shoot Batgirl in the back. "Stay focused" he said simply, jumping off the catwalk, only to roll as he connected with the rock ground below.
Eyes narrowing at the sight of a dark figure running past the battle holding some sort of alien tech, Renegade flipped out the way as a large mechanical claw swooped down, the hero narrowly dodging. Grabbing one of the electrical cables littering the floor, Renegade used one of his shuriken to slice the cable in half, flipping over the machine where the claw had originated from and sticking both broken cables into the leg joints of the mech. suit.
"Batgirl, manoeuvre seven!"
Renegade turned to see Batman aiding batgirl to the next platform just as sparks shot out the mech. Suit- the machine's power source overloading, as Batgirl used the momentum to knock down another opponent, Robin using his staff to incapacitate two more.
Returning his attention back to his immediate predicament, the former hero aimed one of his exploding shuriken at the bottom of another catwalk, five of Manta's men positioned atop it. Upon impact the shuriken exploded, bring down the catwalk and enemy soldiers. Satisfied Renegade moved to eliminating three more enemies as other members of the Team and League did the same.
A sudden voice made the assassin freeze in his tracks, the surrounding battle all but forgotten.
"So you survived, apprentice…"
Turning at a speed that would make even the Flash envious, Renegade spun around with a vicious kick, his leg being caught by none other than Deathstroke the Terminator himself- an amused smile on the older man's unmasked face.
"Aiming for the temporal lobe… why, you're lucky I caught that kick. You'd think that it was intended to kill me-"
Renegade's eyes widened as Slade swung both his swords at the teen, his smile growing wider. Grunting, the ebony dropped to the floor before springing himself up again, kicking the villain in the chin- blood now trickling out the corner of Deathstroke's mouth.
Once again Renegade felt the subtle presence trying to break through his mental barriers, however the ebony didn't get a chance to dwell on the matter as a few moments later Deathstroke's sword was centimetres away from Renegade's armoured thigh- the hero flipping back while delivering a kick to his antagonist's jaw just in time.
"-I'm pleased to see not all my teaching were lost on you…"
Anger suddenly flaring as one of his mental 'fire walls' were torn down, Dick struck out at his former captor; blow after blow either dodged or blocked.
"You've softened in your time away… don't worry- that won't be hard to correct- we're working on it as we speak actually..."
Growling in a mix of frustration and confusion, Renegade lunged again- this time behind his 'mentor'- before kicking him in the back, propelling the greying assassin forward. Without a moment's hesitation Slade was on his feet again, using both his swords to push Renegade into a space in the centre of the firefight still going on around them.
"Slade!"
Ignoring Batman's rage-filled voice, the mercenary continued his attack, sweep kicking Renegade to the ground. Twisting his legs around Deathstroke's body, Renegade flung the villain to the ground- the mercenary landing with a thud as he dropped one of his swords.
Sprinting over, Renegade was about to attack again when Deathstroke suddenly rose to his feet, his fist connecting with Dick's face in one swift motion. Renegade was sent to the floor by the power behind the punch, Slade stalking towards him. Rolling to the side, the ebony barely dodged Deathstroke's sword; the steel blade leaving deep, clean slices through Mount Malina's surprisingly cool floor.
Renegade grunted as he tackled Deathstroke, pushing the aged man against the ship being constructed. Slade growled, his one eye narrowing as he kneed Renegade in the stomach, elbowing the 19-year-old in the back once he had doubled over in pain.
Once again Renegade connected with the floor, the hero supressing a cry of pain as Deathstroke pulled him up by his hair.
"I must say boy, I'm proud of you… you've certainly given me a challenge… maybe someday you'll be skilled enough to succeed me and take the mantle of Deathstroke."
Renegade spat at Deathstroke, earning an angered growl from the older man as he let go of the younger assassin's hair. Wasting no time, Renegade punched the man's side, un-holstering one of Deathstroke's pistols as he did, before making some distance between the two.
"Is that the best you've got, apprentice?"
"I AM NOT YOUR APPRENTICE!" Renegade shouted as he fired the weapon at Deathstroke, successfully emptying two clips, as the battle around him seemed to come to a halt, the sound of the shots echoing throughout the cave. Deathstroke deflected each bullet with his swords, stalking towards Renegade with a sinister grin.
"Renegade; fall back!" Batman ordered- Bart's word's returning to his mind- as Renegade ignored the man's command, Deathstroke standing just centimetres away from his face.
"That's where you're wrong Renegade… see, you've been mine from the moment I noticed you'd drop in here…"
The world seemed to come to a stop as Deathstroke thrust his sword through Renegade's left shoulder- the 19-year-old's eyes widening in shock as multiple screams and shouts echoed through the cave.
"SLADE," Batman snarled, the Dark Knight going to charge at said man.
"Stay right where you are hero," Deathstroke turned to the team as he spoke, turning the blade and earning a strangled cry from Dick before continuing, "and that goes for all of you too."
Tugging the blade free from Renegade's shoulder, with the teen still reeling from the pain, Deathstroke kicked the injured male's shoulder, thus forcing him to the ground with a strangled moan. Slowly Renegade felt the subtle presence ebb itself out of his mind, his sudden anger dissipating with it.
"Let me make this perfectly clear; I'm taking my apprentice and leaving. If any of you should make any attempt to follow... Renegade here, is losing a limb."
"You're bluffing," Batman challenged, "do that and he'll lose some of his value to you."
"From what I've observed in my time with the boy; he only requires one hand to fulfil even a challenging task. Besides, I'm sure the boy would be able to create a sufficient prosthetic should the need arise." Pressing his steel capped boot into Renegade's bleeding shoulder, Deathstroke smirked as the teen attempted to force relieve the pressure with his hands, causing more blood to seep from the fresh wound in his shoulder.
"Isn't that right apprentice?" Renegade cried out as more pressure was applied, the former hero gritting his teeth as he nodded his head reluctantly- the pressure on his shoulder lessening slightly.
"So, once again, my apprentice and I are leaving. Attempt to follow and there will be consequences, for both him and all of you; a Krolotean bomb has been planted as a contingency should any of you ignore my warning."
The heroes immediately froze, Batman turning to see a large device propped up on the cave's wall- the single light on it flashing red and emitting an ominous glow.
"My sources inform me the yield is quite impressive... Care to give it a whirl?"
Renegade let out a groan as he forced Deathstroke's boot away from his shoulder, rolling himself onto his side as he took a few deep breaths. The former hero was panting, taking a moment to stare into the corner of the space before shifting his attention to his former mentor. A few moments passed, no one uttering another word, before Batman simply lowered his baterrangs and reluctantly took a step back.
"Team, stand down and do not pursue."
"No fucking way. We just got him back- the real him!"
"Stand. Down. Kid Flash," Batman growled, turning to Wally and, to his surprise, mouthing 'please'. Wally narrowed his eyes but complied, raising his arms in a disarming way as he took a few steps backwards.
"Wise choice," Deathstroke replied with a smirk, turning back to Renegade- the man clutching his shoulder as blood seeped from the wound. The ebony cried out as Deathstroke grabbed his shoulder, heaving the hero to his feet.
Renegade took a deep breath, sending a remorseful look back at his teammates and mentor, his eyes lingering on Batman for a few moments. Bruce nodded slowly at his son, his chest constricting in anticipation of what the teen was about to do.
Steeling himself, Renegade's face hardened once more as Deathstroke finally had him standing before the ebony smashed his head into his tormentor's nose, a satisfying crack echoing through the open space. Immediately the experienced mercenary swore, his grip on Dick's shoulder tightening as more blood pooled from the wound.
Wally went to take a step forward, however Batman held his arm out, blocking the red-head's path to his friend.
"What are you doing?!"
Batman didn't respond, his fist clenching as he noticed Deathstroke pull out a syringe from one of the pouches of his belt. Averting his eyes, the Dark Knight grit his teeth as the syringe was stuck into Renegade's neck. Deathstroke immediately let go of his apprentice, a small smile creeping onto his lips as the younger dropped to his hands and knees without the man supporting his weight.
This jarred the ebony's shoulder, Renegade half muffling a scream before he began to feel drowsy, his injured arm bucking under his own weight.
"I'd hoped it wouldn't come to that apprentice, but you didn't really leave me much of a choice."
Deathstroke's words sounded distant as Dick felt his eyelids grow heavy, his cheek suddenly pressed against the surprisingly cool surface of the volcanoes floor. He was aware of someone calling for him before he was lulled into the deceptively calm abyss of darkness; feeling Deathstroke hoist him over his shoulders as his limbs swayed with the older assassin's movements.