Muddling though Grey
Chapter Thirteen: Deals
Disclaimer: Characters and premise are the property of DC, I'm just borrowing them for a little non-profit fun.
Notes: Apologies, but no Weather Wizard. I just didn't have any ideas that were a particular great fit for him. As it is I feel like I'm already under-using Evan and particularly Sam, so I'm pretty much at the limit of characters I can handle as a writer.
Also Amanda Waller is very heavily influenced by the JLU depiction of the character, much more so than her comicbook counterpart.
A half-day earlier
"Superman didn't find him," Batman reported before Flash could ask. "Now we check any buildings with an excess of lead. I'm cross-referencing with property deeds to get a list of more probable places to check first."
"Give me the damn list," Flash snapped. "I'll have them all checked before you can finish reading up on them. We've got to find Trickster before Waller has them off the planet for her kamikaze mission."
Batman watched the blur of red as Flash sped off and considered again how desperate Waller had to be to pull this stunt here in Metropolis where Superman was bound to take it personally when someone he'd apprehended disappeared from police custody. Not to mention pulling this with a teenager the Flash had known since the boy was in grade school. Still, Waller and her associates had never had much sense when it came to not ticking super-heroes off.
He went back to hacking her records just in case there were any details he'd missed the first time through.
Present
"This is about National Security. I can do damn near anything to you to get what I want." Waller waited for Trickster to look appropriately threatened but he was staring past her at the green glow leaking through the cracks around the doorframe. A moment later the door crumpled.
"You might want to refresh your memory of law Ms. Waller," the dark-skinned Lantern stated coldly. Batman loomed beside him while Flash simply appeared across the room crouched next to Trickster.
Flash helped James to his feet and even after he was standing kept his hands protectively on James' shoulders. "Are you hurt?" he asked.
James tried very hard not to lean into Flash's support. "Bitch thought she could scare me by keeping me up past my bedtime," he said lightly.
The three heroes exchanged dark looks. "Coercing children Amanda?" Batman asked. "And I thought my opinion of you couldn't get any lower."
"This isn't a game where we go out and play dress-up," Waller sneered. "It's the fate of the world. Do you seriously think anyone will care if some itinerant circus brat doesn't get due process?"
Batman didn't move, his expression didn't alter, but the Lantern edged cautiously away from him and Waller's complexion took n a grey undertone. Still she smiled gamily. "Oh, don't take it personally. You wouldn't even have yours if anyone else had been willing to open their home to a gypsy boy and a traumatized one at that. Or did you think social services is normally comfortable placing an eight year old with a bachelor who makes a point of looking irresponsible?"
"And this one?" Waller continued. "No one out side of your little game of costumed warfare cares. His parents abandoned him, the system's given up and just waiting for him to turn 18 so he can be locked up for real. For once in his life he's going to do something constructive or so help me, he's never walking out of this building."
"I'd like to see you stop us," Flash muttered angrily, his hands tightening on James' shoulders.
"The rest of them? They were just gravy: A team he's accustom to working with to keep him alive long enough to play his part. He's key, so of course, he's the stubborn one." Waller stared directly at Trickster and smiled. "The rest of your 'Rogues' couldn't snap up my offer fast enough. You on the other hand... Of course, they don't stand a chance in hell without you. But I'll send them anyway. A deal's a deal, after all."
James wavered. If the Rogues needed him...
"What's so special about the kid anyway?" the Lantern asked with a frown. "He's just a kid with an annoying gimmick. He doesn't even have powers."
Waller shook her head and laughed bitterly. "A practically self-educated eleven-year-old builds flying shoes out of things he scrounges. He weaponizes toys using theories from almost every branch of science in existence and he does it well enough to hold his own against a meta-human, without ever compromising his 'annoying gimmick'. And you can't see how he might be useful?"
"I have an alien warship the size of Saturn headed toward this system," she said. "There aren't enough arms on the planet to fight that thing. But he'll turn their own tech against them. It doesn't matter that it's alien technology, lack of training and education hasn't stopped him yet."
"Okay, you need a saboteur who can work with materials at hand, the Rogues have my back. If I do this we all get pardons and if I don't it's 'War of the Worlds' without the convenient virus," Trickster said. "You could have said that in the first place."
"She also could have mentioned the part where her plan has no exit strategy," Batman stated and Waller glared at him angrily. "Your task is to take out Warworld's engines with the Rogues to keep you alive long enough to get that done. Then you have your pardon, Waller's done with you and you're still on Warworld."
"Are you guys gonna rescue the other Rogues too?" James asked.
"I represent the US government," Waller stated. "You can't just walk in here and set criminals loose!"
"Of course not," Green Lantern said. "But as a representative of an Earth-bound government your jurisdiction does not extend beyond this planet's atmosphere. You want an interstellar pre-emptive action in my sector of space, you will work with me."
"The US Government does not recognize the authority-"
"Be careful Ms. Waller. Or the Guardians of Oa may not continue recognizing your authority either."
"You are correct about the seriousness of the threat," Batman admitted. "You should have brought your information to the JLA from the start. As you have said: You have a deal with the Rogues. If they still want it once full disclosure has been made, you will keep it. However, the JLA will not countenance the strong-arming of minors into risking their lives."
"I told you, without him it's pointless," Waller said. "Do you think I've got enough on Luthor to force him into cooperating?"
"I will be taking Trickster's place," Batman said calmly.
"You may design your tech, but you have the resources of an entire company at your disposal," Waller argued. Batman ignored her.
"If the Rogues are willing, we will deal with one of Warworld's two engine-complexes. A second JLA team will support Atom in disabling the second engine-complex. The Lanterns will provide transportation to, and from, the planet. They will also haul it to a compatible star-system once it's been immobilized."
Flash took over, "Due to Trickster's age, his 'community service' will be done on Earth, working with our younger heroes under appropriate supervision."
"What makes you think I'm going to agree to this?" Waller asked.
"Your other choice is to tell your sponsors that you were unable find means to deal with the approaching threat and that the information was turned over to the JLA for them to handle," Batman replied. "The Rogues will, of course, be returned to police custody. You are in Metropolis, neither Superman nor Lex Luthor is going to quietly stand by while a precedent is set for the government simply making people like the Rogues disappear."
"The threat is real," Green Lantern reminded. "You want it dealt with. The Rogues were a Hail-Mary pass and you know it. True, the Rogues are, surprisingly, a strong, functional team. But two teams with support have a much better chance of accomplishing your goals."
"If you get more than a hundred feet from your handler the bracelet will alarm. Deal off, we haul you back here indefinitely." Waller's subordinate stopped. Trickster was slumped in his chair leaning sideways against the Flash, fast asleep. The officer frowned and reached out to shake him awake.
"Let him sleep," Flash said with a warning look. "The ankle bracelet is ridiculous anyway. First he'll be working primarily with a recognizance team, wearing something that gives off a traceable signal would endanger him, his team and their missions. Second treating something like that as a serious control on Trickster is an insult. He'll circumvent it as soon as he's awake just to prove he can. Why bother with the charade?"
"So, unless you actually have something worthwhile to impart, I'll be taking James and that written copy of our agreement home. Now, if you please." Flash hesitated for a brief moment. He knew Trickster would vigorously protest what he was contemplating, but the teenager looked so terribly run down. Barry really didn't want to wake him up just so he could walk out of Waller's little dictatorship under his own power. Barry gave a mental shrug, what James didn't know couldn't hurt his pride. He scooped up the sleeping teen and carried him out.
Barry made it from the Metropolis Zeta platform to the one hidden in the shed in his backyard without James stirring once. Getting the door open without waking him took a bit of doing, but he managed it.
Iris and a pretty, petite blond were sitting in the kitchen talking when Barry edged through the door carrying James. They both jumped to their feet with worried expressions. "Shh," Barry whispered. "He's exhausted." Still looking concerned, Iris got the door to the spare bedroom for Barry. The blonde trailed behind while James' shoes were pulled off and he was put to bed.
"What the hell happened to the brat?" the blonde demanded as soon as the door was shut.
Barry's expression hardened, "Our government's taking pages out of the KGB manual on how to elicit cooperation. Don't worry, we pulled James before any real harm could be done and the JLA has control over the mission your brother agreed to."
"And I'm supposed to be assured by that?" the young woman exclaimed. "You're okay, but some of that lot are pretty vicious about going after 'evil doers'." She nodded toward the bedroom. "How many of your friends really get the difference between Trickster and Joker? And how many of them just see black and white?"
"Batman will be on the ground with the Rogues," Barry said. "The JLA can't abandon the Rogues without leaving him as well. Satisfied about our intentions Lisa?"
"I suppose I have to be," Lisa sighed. "Len told me they were going to be gone for awhile, asked that I keep the kids from tearing the base down while he was gone. He was keeping things from me, I hate when he does that."
"I should call the boys," Iris said. "Conner's been stopping by a couple times a day looking for updates. Evan and Hartley have been nearly as bad since Joan gave the okay for them to be up and about."
"Conner's the new kid Len mentioned?" Lisa asked curiously. "I didn't think my brother'd ever take on an apprentice given the way he's always complaining about the other three juvenile delinquents. Plus he was always so against me tagging along with his friends. 'Though, I gotta admit not having a record's sort of good since I am going to make the Olympics this time around… damn tenth of a point, judges just have no appreciation of style. So the kid's got an ice theme going? Did he build his own tech or is Len teaching him?"
Barry and Iris traded a look. "Conner's a meta," Barry half-explained. "Freeze breath, sort of like Superman. And he's not committing crimes, Conner's actually one of the junior heroes, like my nephew. Except Captain Cold is his mentor instead of a JLA'er."
"Only in Central," Lisa shook her head.
"The rest of them need a better class of enemies," Barry said. "Can't image having to deal with psychopaths like Zoom and Murmur every single time out."
A short while later Iris was inviting Conner, Owen, Hartley and Evan in and telling them to make themselves comfortable.
As soon as he saw Lisa Evan's eyes widened. "Man! You didn't tell me Beautiful was here!" Evan accused Barry. "I would have cleaned up better." He smiled besottedly at Lisa. "Hey Lisa, I got a real good fake ID now. I could take you out to a bar or anywhere you wanted to go."
Lisa laughed and ruffled Evan's hair. "You're still cute... and I still date older men."
Barry cleared his throat and held out his hand. Evan looked at him innocently. "Fake ID," Barry requested.
"Come on! You're a superhero, you can't bust me for normal teenager crap!" Evan protested.
Barry frowned. Evan grumbled but turned over the ID.
"What's Evan need a fake ID for?" Conner asked Hartley. "He's got a secret identity."
"He's also still two years too young to buy beer," Hartley explained. "And we're not allowed to rob liquor stores. Everyone over 21 has their own favorite that's off-limits in case we put them out of business. No liquor store without a Rogue patron survives in Central."
Lisa's gaze fell on Owen. "No way!" she exclaimed. "That's Owen! No way did Digger Harkness make a kid that cute! How old are you sweetie?" she asked reaching out for Owen. Conner hesitated to hand Owen over to this strange woman even if the Rogues seemed to know her.
"Birthday!" Owen told her excitedly as he held up three fingers. "Get prezzies!"
"And you must be my new nephew, Conner," Lisa said. "I'm Lisa Snart, Len's little sister and figure skater extraodinaire."
"I'm not- Len's not- he just," Conner stammered, flushing brightly.
"The Rogues have always been family and you're wearing Len's colors, that's good enough for me," Lisa stated firmly.
Conner smiled luminously. 'You'd better get everyone home safe, Bruce,' Barry thought. 'I know Robin can't handle losing you. And I don't think Conner'll be able to handle anything happening to his family now that he's finally found one.'
James wandered out of the bedroom and groggily shoved Hartley over so that he could have a spot on the sofa in the middle of his friends. "You telling everyone 'bout what a Jonah I am?" he asked.
Barry rubbed the bridge of his nose and added another to the list of kids who won't be able to handle losing another family. "James, it's not your fault. Waller put the whole thing into motion and the Rogues are adults who were fully informed of the risks and rewards before they agreed… The second time they agreed anyway."
"It's not the end of the world either. Waller's problem was that she doesn't have the resources to support an interstellar mission. It's different with the JLA in the loop. Not a month goes by without one of us being asked to help with an extra-solar situation. We know what we're doing. The Rogues will be done with the job and back before you know it."
Once Barry was done outlining the situation for Lisa and the younger Rogues everyone looked grim. Conner looked around at his friends, his expression turned determined. "They're smart and they're tough and so's Batman. It's only a part of the JLA who are complete assholes. They'll be okay," he declared. "What's the reparation thing mean for James?"
"It means for the next year he's obligated to take missions at the JLA's discretion. The plan is for him to be working with Young Justice, primarily. Same missions as you guys, I won't send him anywhere I wouldn't send Wally." Barry stared at James until he made eye-contact, "The deal will be revoked if you get caught committing felonies and Waller is vindictive enough to continue taking a personal interest in you; so please don't be stupid. The banks will still be there next year if you're still of a mind to rob them."
"That's all well and good," Evan said. "But Con's the only one of his team who's worked with Trickster enough to know how to watch his back right."
"It's okay," Hartley said. "I can tag-along right? I don't mind hypnotizing people to stop crimes once and a while, it's a change of pace."
"I'm certainly not going to get in the way of you doing good deeds," Barry said.
Evan threw up his hands. "By the time the guys get back I'm going to be the only one with anything hanging over my head. And I'm the oldest. Cold'd have my head if I let these three idiot run off and play hero without anyone watching out that they don't go ending up martyrs. You think you can swing Trickster's deal to cover me too?"
Barry tried not to look too eager. "I know a few people in Central who wouldn't be opposed," then he hesitated. "They will want you to turn yourself in," he said. "That means your ID goes out."
"Well that sucks," Evan said.
Barry looked down at the fake ID in his hand for one Everett Collins, age 21. "Is this just for getting past bouncers or will it stand up to scrutiny?" he asked.
"It's good," Evan said. "Should come up faster than my student visa which got cancelled ages ago... and it was fake too."
"We're all going to be together," Conner said happily.
"It better not be boring, that's all I gotta say," James mumbled.