Together We Stand, United We Fall
Chapter Fourteen: Revelation
Author's note: The Injustice League are introduced. I'm actually afraid of clowns because of the Joker.
SnowWolf22: Thank you! And, wow, that was not useless information actually. I must've missed that but I actually needed it to be lead to introduce a weak point in Phe's powers. But that was so not useless information.
PrettyKitty Luvs U: Thanks, love! Phe's actually really sarcastic and I want to input her thoughts a lot in chapters but sometimes it doesn't flow right. When I wrote 'Like you care?' I was just like, damn Wally, would you like some cold water? And, if you'd like to see a cartoon version of Phe, go on my profile and copy the link into your web browser.
IceAurora: The twenty-fourth episode is one of my favorites too because Dick is my favorite Robin and his origin story is so unique, you know? And I will introduce Jason, just not in this story. We all know Jason is revived and returns as Red Hood so he plays a major part in my trilogy and season two story. Aqualad is still gonna put on the helmet this chapter. I just love hearing from you!
TohruOrihime: Thanks love bug. I'm glad you enjoyed.
Mount. Justice
October 1
18:13 EDT
I flew from the kitchen, landing in the middle of the glowing circle. Robin and Kaldur greeted me with a smile. Hunter stood aside the circle, chatting with Captain Marvel and Zatara.
"You do know they're a couple, right?" Robin asked, motioning towards M'gann and Conner.
"I believe we knew before they did." Kaldur chuckled. Robin turned around as Wally and Artemis approached us. "Do we tell them?" Kaldur questioned.
"It's not our place to." I say.
"So, if Zatara is our babysitter of the week, why's he still here? And why's he eating my snacks?" Wally pointed at Captain Marvel. "Actually, that's my snack," I correct, scoffing, crossing my arms.
"Recognized: Batman, Zero-Two." The computer announced Batman's arrival.
"Computer, national news." Batman says, exiting out of the zeta-beams glowing white light. Cat Grant appeared on a large holographic screen, the word live capturing my attention.
"The initial attack was short-lived, but Metropolis was only granted a short reprieve. And despite the intervention of Superman and the Justice League, there seems to be no end in sight." Cat Grant reported.
The sky-cam showed large roots sprouting from the ground, wrapped around buildings, crushing them to debris with unknown strength. I watched as League members fly about, rescuing stranded people and slicing off roots.
"Should we get out there?" Robin asked, excitedly.
"No. The League will soon have the situation under control. That's not why I'm here." Batman paused, allowing a picture of Sportsmaster to appear beside his face.
"According to your intel, Sportsmaster supplied Cadmus' blockbuster formula to Kobra." Batman recaps.
"Who combined it with Bane's venom to create Kobra venom." Wally adds.
"Which The Brain used to create his animal army." Robin exhaled.
"And upgrade Wolf," Conner smiles, rubbing Wolf's ear.
"The Brain also used inhibitor collars like the ones at the penitentiary." M'gann informs Batman.
"Is it possible that those plant things are on Kobra venom, too?" I asked, raising an eyebrow at the Dark Knight. Batman swiped his hand in front of him, a holographic keyboard appearing. He began typing, "I had Green Lantern run a spot cellulose does contain trace amounts of a Kobra venom variant."
Holographic cells and such float in front of us.
"These cannot be coincidences, unrelated criminals are cooperating with one another worldwide." Kaldur announced. Robin pulled up his own holographic keyboard.
"Exactly. It's now clear our enemies have formed some kind of secret society of super villains." Batman agreed.
"Then that means the attack on Metropolis is only the beginning." Hunter sighs.
"Got that right. Plant creatures have sprouted in Gotham City, Paris, Star City, Taipei-"
I gasp, stepping forward. The iconic Star City bridge is over flowed with plant creature that seemed to squeeze.
"Dude." Wally complained as the feed stopped and static filled the air. Robin typed faster, "It's not me. Someone's cutting in the satellite signal. All satellite signals."
I jumped back, colliding into Wally as the Joker's grinning face appeared on the screen.
"Ladies and gentlemen," he grinned harder, tapping on the lens of the camera, "we interrupt your regularly scheduled mayhem to bring you this important announcement from the Injustice League," the Clown Prince of Crime leaned back, pulling out a pocket knife from his sleeve.
"Injustice League, how original." I whispered.
The camera lens moved, displaying six notorious villains. Joker laughed maniacally before one with a thick accent spoke.
"We are responsible for the attacks on your cities. If you wish to save them, a ransom of 10 billion American dollars is required. Delivery instructions have been sent to the United Nations. There is no time limit. But, the longer your governments wait-"
Joker pulled the camera, speaking into the lens. "The more we get to have our jollies." He began to laugh before the feed shut off.
"Roger that, Aquaman. The UN will prepare the ransom as a fallback, but it won't come to that." Batman says, pressing the comm. link in his ear.
Robin types on holographic keyboard.
"Count Vertigo, The Joker, Poison Ivy, Ultra-Humanite, Atomic Skill, Black Atom, Wotan." Robin's voice got louder with each name. "Seven heavy hitters. Probably behind everyone and everything we've faced." Robin concluded.
"There's your secret society." Wally murmured. "Not so secret anymore." I whispered.
"Perhaps, after India, they realized we would deduce the truth and saw no point in hiding any longer." Aqualad suggested.
"Yeah," Wally agrees excitedly, "That was their mistake. Right now, I say we go kick some plant creature butt." Wally punches his fist into his open palm, smirking.
"The Justice League will handle the plants. I have a different job for this Team." Batman countered. Wally slumped his shoulders, "Oh, man," he groaned. Artemis punches his bicep.
"With the plants attacking so many locations simultaneously, there must be a central control system. You mission is to destroy it." Batman announced. Zatara stepped forward, uncrossing his arms.
"You realize what your really asking them to do?" Zatara asked.
"They're ready." Batman answered. "Ready? Ready for what?" Wally asked. Artemis hit him again.
"Will you cut that out?" Wally hissed. "Hello, Wally," I pause, "if the big guns are fighting Kobra venom plants, who do you think we'll be fighting?"
Wally rubbed his bicep, glaring at Artemis. "I don't know. I gues-." I scoff, rolling my eyes, pointing at the screen.
"Oh." Wally gasps.
"Well, Batman, I trust you're correct." Zatara admits.
"I trust you can locate the enemy," Batman counters.
"Indeed," Zatara confirms. "Wotan's informants suggest sorcery is part of how the plants are controlled." Zatara explained. "Robin," he addressed his attention to the Boy Wonder, "if you will provide a holo-map," Robin typed fast on the holographic keyboard.
A large holographic representation of the Earth appeared in front of us, "I'll search for signs of concentrated sorcerous activity."
Zatara extended his hands, speaking in a foreign language.
"There," a red, blinking dot appears in south from our current location. "That is where you will find the Injustice League's central control system." Zatara added.
"Coordinates locked in. The Louisiana bayou." Robin announced.
"We are on our way." Kaldur promised as we ran out of the mission room, into the locker room.
Bayou Bartholomew
October 1
18:52 CDT
I munched on a banana, curtsy of Wally.
"What's in the bag?" Hunter questioned. I kicked the duffel to my other side, hiding it from his view. He counted his bows and checked his utility belt.
"Plan B." Aqualad answered, gravely.
Miss Martian gasped, rubbing her head.
"You alright?" Superboy asked, protectively. "Martian's get airsick?" Robin pondered.
"She does look a bit greener than usual," Kid Flash murmured. "If that's possible," Hunter whispers from in front of Kid Flash.
"Not me, her," Miss Martian groaned. "I feel fine," Artemis and I announced.
"Not her, the bio-ship," Miss Martian announced. "She's trying to shield us but-" Miss Martian was cut off by the sound of electrical crackling.
We shout as Black Atom's fist connects with the bottom of the bio-ship. Before I could do anything to prevent a case of whiplash, we crash into the water. I groan, rubbing my head that had hit my seat multiple times. Large plants emerged from the water, wrapping around the bio-ship, pulling us down.
The bio-ship shakes as something heavy lands on the roof. Black Atom rips into the bio-ship, creating a hole. He glares inside, looking around.
"He's hurting her!" Miss Martian cries. Superboy punches Black Atom, sending him flying. Water spills into the bio-ship, fast.
"No way I'm nearly drowning." Artemis declares, placing a re-breather I had given her early in her mouth. She hands Kid Flash her spare. "Uh, wow, thanks." He smiles.
"Here," I hand Hunter my spare re-breather as well. "It's not poisoned." I joke, placing my own in my mouth. He takes it, smiling kindly at me. "Thank you, Phoenix." I merely nod.
"M'gann we need to get out! Open a hatch!" Superboy placed a hand on Miss Martian's shoulder.
"Hello M'gann," she stated weakly, "of course." I watch as gills emerge on her neck; she dive under, a hole opening on the floor. More water spills in. I dive under, establishing a mental link.
"Link established." I announced.
"Out! Everyone out!" Aqualad commanded. I dove into the hole, swimming. Flying underwater proved difficult last time. We swam around the small peninsula, watching the bio-ship being dragged into the water.
I removed my re-breather, slowly walking out the water. "She's in shock. She'll need time to recover." Miss Martian informed.
I collapse onto the muddy floor, gripping my head in pain. Kid Flash lifts his head up, "Vertigo," he strains.
"Count Vertigo to you, peasant." Count Vertigo steps forward, glaring at Kid Flash. Superboy prepares to lunge at Count Vertigo but Black Atom tackles him into the ground again.
"Robin! Miss Martian! Disappear! We will keep them busy!" Aqualad commands as Miss Martian places her cloak over her head, disappearing from view.
I fly into the air, sending a strong telepathic wave at Count Vertigo.
I groan awake, pushing stray hair out of my eyes. Hunter lays beside me, blinking slowly. I notice the cut on his chin. I push myself up, kneeling.
We are trapped in a golden cage.
"They awake," Count Vertigo announced. I glanced around; we were being transported somewhere.
"You're certain this will hold them?" Count Vertigo questioned. "The cage is impenetrable. Even the Superboy has no chance of escaping," Wotan smugly added. Aqualad gripped the bars of the cage, "You are not the only one trained in the mystic arts, Wotan." Aqualad growled as the tattoos on his skin glowed. He slumped in failure.
"Please, Atlantian, do not pretend you're in my League." Wotan grinned. I heaved, placing my head between my legs. "You alright?" Hunter murmured. "Fine. Just dizzy." I huffed. Besides the fact that Hunter was being uncharacteristically nice, I pushed aside the feeling that something was terribly wrong.
Kid Flash crawled towards me, "You ate the banana I gave you, right? How are you-"
I wave him off, "It's not that. Something's wrong." I murmur.
The bio-ship speeds up, ramming into Wotan and Count Vertigo. Black Atom flies to save Count Vertigo.
I extend my hands, gently dropping my teammates and Wolf into the swamp. Ultra-Humanite stands in front of us, holding onto a large gun. "I hate monkeys." Superboy growled before lunging at the white ape.
Hunter reaches for his crossbows and sighs noticing them missing. "So naked, right now," he whispers. I shot my orbs at Count Vertigo and Black Atom. Kid Flash runs towards them, slowing as Vertigo concentrated his energy at him. Black Atom slapped Kid Flash; my eyes widen as Kid Flash's body connected with mine.
The large plant that controls all the others around the world explodes. Kid Flash groans, muttering something. I push him off of me, flying back into the air. I fly, feet first, into Count Vertigo. He turns in the last minute- I groan, falling into the mud.
"Leave her alone," Kid Flash growls before being hit by Wotan's energy. Hunter is trying to fight Ultra-Humanite with Aqualad when Wotan hits each of us with a white light.
The pain finally stops when Wotan's eyes widen at Aqualad. Plan B.
"The Helmet of Fate." Wotan marveled. "No, Aqualad, don't!" Kid Flash shouted. Black Atom punched him aside. Superboy punched Black Atom in retaliation. I winced, covering my eyes from the blinding light as Kaldur put on the helmet.
I could hear Kid Flash yelp as he hit the tree. The battle began again.
Miss Martian zipped through the skies above, cloaked. Count Vertigo stood beside Ivy, grinning as Miss M fell from the sky. Kid Flash ran by, ripping part of his cloak. I threw Artemis at him, watching as she kick him down.
I fly towards Kid Flash who leans against the bark of a large tree. I snatch the large piece of cloth from Vertigo's cloak. "Hey, that's my souvenir."
"And this is me helping you," I bend his arm, "Ow, Phe!" Kid Flash cries. I tie the knot around his neck. He gazes down, "Thanks."
"Welcome. Partially my fault why I didn't stop you from hitting the tree-" I'm cut off by Wolf slamming into me. I stand up, rubbing the mud out of my face. I trudge out, aiming my orb at Ultra-Humanite but Kid Flash points behind me.
Members of the Justice League surround the members of the Injustice League. I offer my mentor a tired smile, wiping the mud from my hands.
"It's over." Batman declared.
"There will be another day," Wotan promised.
"Another day? Another day! There will be another day? Not for any of us!" Joker shouts, laughing, his fingers dancing in the air. "Joker venom spores! Don't breathe!" Batman shouted, punching the Clown Prince of Crime.
Dr. Fate appeared above us, "Fear not." Dr. Fate sucks up all the Joker venom. "Fate as intervened."
"What were you thinking?" Kid Flash shouted at Miss Martian and I. The Justice League watched the scene unravel behind us. "Nabu will never release him now," Kid Flash says gravely.
"Kaldur will be trapped inside Dr. Fate forever!" Kid Flash concludes, looking down.
There is a long silence; I stare into Kaldur's expressionless eyes through the holes. Kaldur raises his hands, removing the helmet.
"Nabu let you go?" Kid Flash smiled, happily.
"He almost did not." Kaldur admits as I stand beside Kid Flash.
"But your friend Kent was most helpful. He says hello to the two of you." Kid Flash grins at me.
"We're done here. The super villain secret society has been neutralized." Batman says. "As for you performance," Batman paused, "it was satisfactory."
I glanced at my teammates; Hunter smiled at me. I smiled in return. The uneasy feeling from before returned.
Star City
October 1
23:54 PDT
"Hey," Aunt Dinah knocks on my open door. "Can we talk about tonight?"
I close my laptop, crawling towards the edge of my large bed. Aunt Dinah sits beside me, nervously fiddling with her hands.
"You're making me nervous. Did I do something? Is it Roy? Am-"
"It's Ellie." Aunt Dinah turned to face me, enclosing her hands around mine. "W-What about Ellie?" My voice cracks. Eleanor (better known as Ellie) Wilson. My best friend since first grade. My heart raced as Aunt Dinah spoke, "Her mother called me to inform you that Ellie has been emitted to the hospital. A broke rib, serious bruising, and amnesia."
I am silent. A part of me is revealed Ellie is alive.
"How-?
"Ellie doesn't remember." Aunt Dinah answers. "Is there a boy in the picture?" Aunt Dinah asks, nervously.
"No, there has to be something behind all of this. Like maybe she was hurt in the attack today or-"
Aunt Dinah cuts me off, "Tomorrow, I'll drive you to the hospital, okay? Don't sleep too late." Aunt Dinah kissed my forehead, lingering for a moment before leaving my room. I crawled back to the top of my bed, covering my aching body with my thick comforter.
Maybe that's why Hunter was being so nice- because he was somehow involved with Ellie. That means he knows my identity. And he knows that I know his.
Maybe that's also why I felt uneasy today, because I knew something was off.
Author's note: Hope you guys enjoyed! Anyways, when you read the Joker, can you read him in Mark Hamill, please? As much as I love Young Justice, I did not love their Joker adaptation- even though I hate clowns due to Joker.
Anyways, next chapter, more snooping on Phe's part. I'm so excited to write season two- more of a darker theme, hopefully.