Disclaimer: Nothing.
Chapter 13
Bart took a deep breath and turned to Adam. "So this is it?" he asked with a wavering smile.
The older boy nodded. "This is it."
It had taken some time, but Adam had managed to determine the location of both the emeralds and Shadow Stalker. Jaime and Barbara had taken the closest zeta-beam transporter, leaving the speedster and the telekinetic to take on the beast of a man.
"Good luck," Garfield rasped, stirring uncomfortably in his seat.
"Won't need it," Bart protested with a confidence he didn't feel.
"Back in no time," Adam added. He took Bart's hand and closed his eyes,
Thought travel was one of the weirdest things Bark ever experienced. It wasn't like zeta travel, breaking apart and coming back together; this was moving through syrup, pulled through space and the deep, dark unconscious of the world. And when they landed, he felt weak, knees almost buckling under his weight.
That was not a good position to be in when facing Shadow Stalker.
"Well, well, well," he mused, towering over the two teens. "How lovely to see you. Where are your little friends?"
"Trying to heal Beast Boy," Kid Flash growled, balling his hands into fists just at the thought of this injured teammate.
"Ah, yes, the changeling. I must congratulate you on finding him." He turned to Smoke. "Your doing, I assume. Your powers are growing quite impressively." Fire danced on his fingertips. "Not as impressive as mine, of course. And seeing how tedious this game has gotten, I won't engage in witty banter. Simply give me the final emerald, and I will grant you a quick death."
"Yeah, like we came this far to give up."
He glanced at Kid. "Speedster, your confidence is both amusing and inconceivable. You stand no chance against me. It's a waste of time for all involved." He cracked his neck. "But if you insist..."
The flames came bursting forward. Kid dodged, only to be swiped by the claws.
"You cannot outrun me," Shadow Stalker jeered, delivering a kick to his stomach. Crimson stained the yellow.
As he sprawled to a stop, he watched the villain turn on Smoke. "Your powers may have gotten stronger, but so have mine. I've figured out how to block your telekinesis." He sent a wave of flames outward; Smoke barely jumped out of the way. "You are no threat against me, no more than your sister was. How is she, by the way? So insensitive of me, to not have been asking about her. Is she dead yet? Or is she still clinging to life? I know that blow to her head must have caused some trauma." He chuckled darkly. "What a brave big brother you are, abandoning that sweet little thing."
Smoke gritted his teeth and charged, but without his powers to weaken Shadow Stalker, he was at the monster's mercy. His makeshift weapons bounced off without any effect, and one punch sent him sprawling.
C'mon, get up, Kid thought fiercely. Wally wouldn't just be lying here!
He got to his feet and slammed into Shadow Stalker, only to rebound and fall to the floor.
"Your persistence is no longer admirable, only annoying." Shadow Stalker raised a fiery fist over the thirteen-year-old.
Bart jumped to his feet and sped away, expecting the attack to still hit him. To his surprise, each blast was several feet behind him.
"What is this?" Shadow Stalker snarled. The next few waves of flames were weaker than before. "What is happening?"
"What, getting weaker?" Smoke demanded with a sneer. "Not so strong now, huh?"
An inhuman growl rumbled from his throat. "The emeralds!"
"That's right, Stalker." Kid whirled around, a roundhouse kick cracking his jaw. "Your stupid little jewels are nothing but pieces now."
He roared and whirled to strike him, but he froze in place.
"So much for stronger powers," Smoke quipped, eyes locked on his opponent. "Not much now, are you? See, at least my abilities are real. Your? Fancy toys. And without the power of the emeralds, they're nothing. Sucks, doesn't it?"
"I can...still defeat you," he snarled. "Do not...get so cocky. Because...I know...your weakness." Clearly struggling, he still managed to raise his head in defiance. "I remember...quite clearly...what she looked like."
And then suddenly Smoke screamed and sank to his knees and Shadow Stalker was running toward him and Kid Flash knew what he had to do.
He interjected the attack.
The claws dug into his stomach, cutting into his wound, and he collapsed to the ground, hand flying to the now gaping hole right below his ribs. And when Shadow Stalker raised his hand, Bart just closed his eyes and waited, because he couldn't even stand, much less walk, and Adam was still in a stupor over whatever image Shadow Stalker had flashed in his mind and dying a hero's death was worth it, and he'd get to be with Wally, and it's not like anyone needed him anyone, so maybe dying wouldn't be so bad, it was worth it...
That's when a tyrannosaurus rex burst into the room.