Chapter 21: Selfish Desires
Authors Note: Thank you all once again for your reviews and favorites and followers. I love all of the support and feedback. I bet I raised a few questions last chapter. Well hopefully this chapter with explain a few. Enjoy!
Disclaimer: I do not own the Justice League.
When Gauntlet and his team of Dark Magician, Frightmare and Phoenix were turned on by their JLA comrades they thought that the whole plan was to contain the Shadow Warriors, so they could defeat the Light by themselves.
It was what he was still thinking even when he was being held in a separate holding cell away from his friends. It wasn't until he was reunited with his friends that he realized that Shadow had finally snapped.
"So that's it?" He asked his friends. Everyone was so put down by their leader's betrayal that they didn't answer. "C'mon guys don't do this, we need to stay together."
"What's the point?" Reaper asked. "That rotten bastard betrayed us all. I knew he was slipping, but I didn't think he could be capable of this."
"No one did." Whisper grunted. "We were to understanding and he knew it."
"He's not wrong though." Magician stated. Everyone looked over at him confused. He raised an eyebrow. "What, he had no moral obligation to help us take revenge or to stop us. We wanted our revenge and we took it, or at least you guys did."
"D.M, you don't get it." Reaper sighed. , running his hands through his messy hair. "My friend and mentor betrayed us so we could go to war on a team of super heroes. He also had the crystal key to the most devastating weapon in the universe not to mention he has a hell spore somewhere on Earth. If that thing goes off we are all fucked!"
"Yes, but it doesn't matter." He stated. "We know that Shadow isn't going to set it off on Earth and as long as he has the key, Savage can't destroy us with the War World. So, in a way, we still got one over on the Light."
They couldn't really argue with that logic, not that anyone really wanted to. As long as the Light was down a few assets and allies they couldn't be more of a threat than they were already. But they all know that Savage was far from being defeated.
"So, what do we do now?" Phoenix asked his friends. "We still have a job to do, right?"
"Yeah, but we can't do anything." Breeze said as she took in their surroundings. "Kinetic barriers will prevent any of our powers from working, our equipment and weapons were taken from us and we would be going toe to toe with a group of invulnerable heroes in space. We have no choice but to play this out."
Everyone agreed on that. They wouldn't be any match for the Justice League at this point. That's when Gauntlet realized something.
"Where is Specter?" He asked.
"Yeah and Thanatos is gone too." Breeze said as she looked around for her friend.
"They are being questioned." Everyone looked over to see Batgirl and Black Canary walk down the hallway. "Specter and Thanatos along with one of our own, Dusk were all known to be in contact with Jayden when he had acquired the Hell Spore."
"How do you know that?" Saika snarled. Canary gave her feral glare.
"They confessed right away after we apprehended the brain." She snapped. "They said that Jayden had told them to tell them when they were apprehended."
"You mean he knew they were going to be captured?" Breeze asked.
"I guess." Batgirl shrugged. "I honestly don't know what the hell is going on." Batgirl approached Breeze's cell. "Even they don't know what's going on. They said that they held the Hell Spore somewhere in Warney-tech H.Q, but when Bruce and Martian Man Hunter went there they didn't find anything."
"It isn't there." Breeze groaned. "Jayden isn't-wait did you say that Dusk betrayed you?"
"Yes, he was playing us all along." She sighed. "This is kind of why they can't trust you right now."
"Fuck them!" Phanes shouted. He pushed his way pass his brother Gauntlet. "I want out of this fucking cell right now!"
"That's not going to happen." Canary snapped. "Right now you all are suspects of being affiliated with Jayden and the Hell Spore. Until they are both found you are all to be held here until further notice."
"Yeah we'll see about that!" Phanes shouted.
Canary just snorted and walked away without another word. Batgirl let out a defeated sigh and followed her soon after. Once they were gone the warriors made their move.
"Okay guys let's get the hell out of here." Saika snapped.
"There is no way out." Breeze said. "This prison was designed by Batman. There is no way to break the barriers and we have no help on the outside. Face it, we're stuck here."
"I am not sitting around while those assholes decide our fate!" Vendetta shouted. "They pulled that crap on Jayden and Jason and look what happened to them."
"Well, I think we should wait this out!" Reaper snapped back. "If we go attacking everyone then we'll be completely helpless against Savage and Darkseid."
"And if we stay here we'll be easy pickings for Savage!" Whisper growled.
"Why don't we all see what Gauntlet wants?" Ronin asked in a calm tone. "Shadow did say he was the leader before he left you know."
Everyone had calmed down and looked over at Gauntlet who was starting to look overwhelmed. He didn't know what was going on or what he was going to do. He didn't think he could be worthy of being in charge of a whole team.
"I…I think we should break out." He said. "But if we get out an alarm will go off and we'll have to fight our way out."
"We can do it, we will do it." Surge encouraged. Gauntlet nodded and slowly approached the barrier.
"Theodosia, you and I could probably rip through the barriers." He said. She looked across from her cell at him and raised an eyebrow. "My magic will protect me from the barriers energy and your invulnerability should do the same. All we have to do is press our hands through it and let someone out and disable the cells."
"Okay, who goes out on your side?" She asked.
"Reaper, and send Breeze out she knows how to disable this stuff as well." He looked back at Reaper for confirmation. "Ready?"
"Yeah, sure." He grunted. Gauntlet didn't have time to deal with his attitude right now and continued his plan.
The two stood in front of their own barrier and prepared themselves for their escape. Gauntlet shoved both of his armored hands through the barrier as did Theodosia and the two both slowly and painfully tore an opening through the barrier.
"Reaper, Breeze go now!"
The two quickly made their way through the barrier before they both lost control and released control. Gauntlet examined his hands, which had a few scratches and scorch marks. He focused his power into his armored hands and watches as the metal repairs itself to its previous state.
Breeze and Reaper hacked into the cell and disabled the barriers, allowing their teammates to escape their temporary prison.
"Okay, what do we do now?" Phanes asked.
"We get our equipment from over there." Gauntlet pointed over to where he saw the Justice League put their weapons away.
Theodosia quickly broke the door down and everyone scattered and retrieved their weapons and gear. Gauntlet grabbed his magnum and chain whip while everyone else grabbed their guns and knives. When everyone was prepared they quickly prepared themselves for the worst.
Red Tornado and Cyborg both walk into the holding cells, looking for the warriors. Cyborg had his sonic cannon ready and his light on as he checked down the halls.
"Where are you guys?" Cyborg shouted. "Look, we're not going to hurt you. We just want Jayden to give up the hell spore and crystal key."
"My sensors indicate that they are all here." Red Tornado stated. "We should perhaps call for assistance."
"Too late!"
Saika jumped out and strapped a stun charge on the back of Tornado's neck and fried his circuits. Cyborg quickly aimed his cannon at her, but it was soon pinned to the wall. Startled, he looked to his left to see Monarch levitating in midair. Cyborg tried to break free of her control, but she quickly tore off a large strip of floor and wrapped it around his body. Gauntlet quickly jumped out and pointed his index finger at Cyborg and fired a beam of fire at the edges of the floor panel and welded him to the wall.
"Great, two down and twenty more to go." Gauntlet chuckled as did his friends.
"Dammit, you guys are making a mistake!" Cyborg pleaded.
"You made the mistake betraying us!" Phane's grunted, a blue flame igniting in his hand. "You brought us here, held us against our will. I will fucking end you!" Phanes held the flame closer to his face. Before he could touch Gauntlet grabbed his wrist and pushed him away.
"No killing." He warned. "Non-lethal attacks from here on out."
"That's bullshit!" Phane snapped.
"That's my orders." He said glaring at his brother. "Let's go!"
"It won't matter." Cyborg called out as they all left the room. "You can't leave the watch tower without clearance and no one is going to give it to you!"
Gauntlet and the warriors made it out onto the main floor. To their left there were large windows that gave a great view of Earth and space. It would have been beautiful if it wasn't for the Justice League standing in the center of the room. Superman stood in front of everyone. He was always a diplomat in the group. But Gauntlet didn't have time for diplomacy.
"Turn back now." He warned. "We can't have you causing more trouble than you already have."
The team took offense to that.
"We were helping you to take down the Light." Gauntlet growled. "Anything to do with the hell spore and the crystal key was all of Shadow's doing. The only one who betrayed this shaky truce was you."
"I'm beginning to understand why Jayden turned on you assholes." Vendetta snorted.
"We don't have to do this." Superman said in a grim tone. Reaper shook his head and looked up at the dark corner of the room.
"If you didn't want to do this then you wouldn't have had Green Arrow up in the corner over there."
Arrow fired off two arrows aimed straight at the warriors. Breeze quickly leaped up in the air and used her air powers to blow the arrows back at the archer. When they made contact with the wall green gas coated the whole corner. Arrow fell down onto a lower balcony, letting out a series of coughs.
Superman was stunned for a moment before being tackled to the ground by Thanatos. This surprised everyone, giving Gauntlet and his team enough time to make their move.
Saika and Reaper dived in and attacked Wonder Woman and Hawk Woman. Saika pulled out her dual handguns and fired at Wonder Woman. She blocked with her wrist bands, sparks flew with each shot.
Saika moved in and kicked her in the stomach, knocking the wind out of her. She sent a punch in her face, but she quickly blocked it and head-butted her in the face. Blood spurted out of her nostrils and she quickly became enraged and drew her swords. She let out a scream and started hacking away at her.
Reaper blocked Hawk Woman's mace with his sickles and managed to land a cut across her wing. She let out a scream before swiping a kick to the side of his head. He went stumbling back, which gave Specter enough time to come out of hiding and punch her in the side of the head.
Black Canary and Zatanna were fighting against Dark Magician and Breeze. Breeze swung her staff at Canary. She ducked and dodged her every attack before landing a punch at the side of her head. Breeze fell back while Dark Magician fired a spell at Zatanna who blocked it and fired one right back at him.
Phanes and Vendetta both fired their magical attacks at Flash and Green. Flash dodged Phanes's flames before he fired off an explosive round and knocked him off of his feet. Vendetta fired a beam of dark energy at Lantern, who was blocking with a shield her conjured up with his ring. He eventually over powered her when he got in close enough and turned his shield into a fist and knocked her down into the ground.
The whole Watch Tower became a warzone. Gauntlet fired his fire blast at Superman who countered back with his heat vision. The two were locked in battle. Gauntlet was struggling against Superman. If he could reach his gun he could fire back at Superman and get the upper hand.
Superman had taken advantage and kicked himself off of the ground and flew straight towards Gauntlet. Thinking fast he quickly fell down onto the ground on his back. He caught Superman by surprise and quickly pulled his magnum out and shot him right in the shoulder. Superman let out a shout and clenched his shoulder before crashing into the wall.
Superman staggered to his feet before meeting the barrel of Gauntlet's magnum.
"Don't make me do this!" Gauntlet shouted.
Superman was about to tell him to put the gun down until he caught the sight of someone new.
Whisper was swinging her knife at Batgirl, who was deflecting with a batarang before she was pushed out of the way by her mentor, the Batman.
Everyone who was fighting soon stopped and looked at the dark knight. A briefcase was in in right hand. He opened it and pulled out a small circular green device. He pressed a button and threw it on the ground, an image of Jayden appearing before them.
"Project Vengeance: plan 204." He started. "I have devised a perfect plan to get my revenge on Batman once and for all. I said to myself and to Dick all those years ago that I would take revenge on them with my own team. I can't do it. I was too naïve. Half of my team is too soft to go to war on the Justice League, but then it hit me. I don't need to take out the Justice League. What I need is to beat them. I will destroy the Light, Darkseid, Ra's Al Ghul and save everyone they failed." He then started to look grim in the image. "Then I will take my revenge on Batman. It will cost me everything, but I have to be prepared for it. I am not Jayden Wayne I am Shadow. I have been denying my true self for too long. If I must give up my life in exchange for my own selfish desires…so be it."
Batman glared at everyone as they stared back at him.
"Shadow is in this alone." Batman said in a low voice. "It's me he is after."