Kaldur and I were walking home after seeing Tangled. It was definitely one of my favourite Disney movies now and I think Kal enjoyed it as well. "So what did you think?" I asked.
"I have to admit, I did not expect to enjoy it as much as I did." He replied with a smile. I pulled my scarf over my nose to try to keep warm. There was a fresh layer of snow on the ground and the wind was making me shiver. I raised my eyebrows when I looked at Kal. He was wearing a jacket and gloves but he didn't look cold at all.
"How are you not freezing?" I asked.
"Atlantis can be very cold at times. I am used to cold temperatures. Are you cold?" He asked.
"Freezing!" Kaldur started to pull off his jacket. "No! Keep it on Kal, you're not getting frostbite because of me!"
"I can handle colder temperatures Lila. It would be better for you if you have an extra layer." He told me.
"Don't care! You are not losing fingers because of me! I can handle the cold Kal so put your jacket on." I replied.
He raised his eyebrows. "Are you sure?"
"Positive." He sighed before wrapping his arm around my waist and pulling me close. I smiled as he kissed the top of my head.
"You incredibly stubborn, you know that?" He told me.
I giggled. "It's one of my best traits."
I laughed even harder when Kal said "Indeed." We started walking again and I kept close to Kaldur. He was warmer than I expected.
"Do you-" Kaldur was suddenly cut off as he slipped on the ice and brought me down with me. I landed beside him with a grunt of pain before I started to laugh.
"What is it?" Kaldur asked as he got up.
"Well done Kaldur'Ahm. You've officially swept me off my feet!" I exclaimed. Kaldur burst out laughing as well as he helped me up.
"Are you alright?" He finally managed to get out after he stopped laughing.
I nodded through my giggles. "I'm fine." I finally managed to get out. There was a moment of silence as Kal held my hands and looked at me with a soft smile on his face.
I smiled up at him and gently pressed my lips onto his.
…..
"I swear Lila; you need to bring your new boyfriend to Gotham so Meredith and I can meet him! What's his name again?" Olivia asked.
"Calvin. If I do bring him, you two better not embarrass me!" I replied. Kal had come up with the civilian ID Calvin Durham, since Kaldur isn't a normal name on the surface.
"Ruin our fun why don't ya?" Olivia replied. I laughed as Batman's voice came out of the speaker. "Robin, Kid Flash, Shade, Superboy, Miss Martian. Report for mission briefing."
"What was that Li?" Olivia asked.
"Just the TV Liv. I have to go. I'll talk to you later. Bye!" I told her.
"Bye!" Olivia said before hanging up. I had come to the Cave because Scarlett was at the Watchtower working on something and I wanted to get out of the house. My boredom was killing me. I went to my room in the Cave where I kept a spare uniform and equipment. I got changed quickly before making my way to the mission briefing.
M'gann and I were the first two there. I attempted to talk to the Martian but she seemed distant and quiet. The boys soon arrived and Batman stepped up.
"Rumaan Harjavti." He pulled up a picture of the man. "He is the democratically elected president of Qurac. Harjavti has been praised as a fair wise leader. A humanitarian." Batman also pulled up a video of Harjavti shaking hands with Bruce Wayne.
"Sure, any friend of Bruce Wayne's." I heard Wally whisper to Robin. I raised my eyebrows at the speedster who stood beside me.
"But five days ago, Harjavti allied himself with the dictator of the neighbouring nation of Bialya. Queen Bee." I scowled at the sight of the monarch, the feeling of hate rushing through me.
"Not a fan." Conner grumbled.
"Who are?" I replied.
"Few but Harjavti suddenly backs Queen Bee's baseless claim that Qurac and Bialya were one nation in ancient times and has announced the countries will reunify in two days at a ceremony in Qurac." Batman told us. He pulled up a video of Harjavti at a press conference.
"After the ceremony, I will step down as president so that our rightful monarch, Queen Bee, may rule." Harjavti said.
Batman pulled up another video, this time it was one of Queen Bee at a press conference. "I lawed President Harjavti for unifying our peoples and I will gladly come to Qurac to be crowned sole leader of our nation." I frowned at her tone. She sounded smug, like Qurac was already hers. Something was off here.
"And the Quracis are okay with this?!" Wally exclaimed.
"Hardly." Batman replied. He pulled up a picture of the Quraci people in a peaceful protest. "They're well aware of the brutality of Queen Bee's regime but Harjavti has censored the press, silenced all legitimate protests and invited the Bialyan military into his country to enforce martial law."
"Queen Bee has to be controlling Harjavti. Doesn't she have the power to enthral most men?" Robin asked.
"And some women, but not long distance and we have confirmation she hasn't left Bialya. Something else is at work here. Find out what. Robin, you're team leader." Batman informed his sidekick.
"Promotion? Sweet!" KF said, holding up his hand for Robin to high five.
"Me? But what about Aqualad?" Robin asked.
"Busy helping Aquaman. You're the next logical choice." Batman replied.
"Dude! You totally left me hanging!" Our attention was brought back to KF and Robin gave him an unenthusiastic high five.
"You leave now." Batman commanded and we headed out to the Bioship.
…
"We're right above the Quraci-Bialyan border." Robin told us as we sat in the Bioship.
"A border that the Bialyan's are in the process of ignoring." KF added. We looked out of the windows to see tanks plough down the fence along with groups of soldiers and headed towards the animals.
"No opposition. Guess Harjavti really is in bed with Bialya." Superboy said.
"Wouldn't expect opposition. This is an animal sanctuary." Robin replied.
"The Logan animal sanctuary?" Miss Martian asked.
"You've heard of it?" Robin replied.
I looked down at the animals below and switched my mask to detect height signatures, a feature that Scarlett added. "Guys, tanks have caused a stampede." I said.
"There are civilians in harm's way!" Wally added.
"I see them. Woman and a small boy." Superboy told us.
"We have to help them!" Miss M exclaimed.
"We're way off mission here." Robin said but he hesitated for a moment. "Deploy but stealth mode! The Bialyans know we hit them then this becomes an international incident."
Miss M send down a shot that caused the tanks to collide. She opened the hatch that let out Superboy and Kid Flash before Robin and I leapt out. He threw his bridarangs while I threw smoke bombs. We landed beside a woman and a little boy, who I was assuming was her child.
There was a stampede coming and we jumped out of the way. "Oryx!" I heard the boy yell. The Oryx levitated off the ground. I assumed Miss M was doing that. The stampede soon ran past us and Robin asked "Are you both alright?" Wally appeared beside us a moment later.
"Mom, mom, mom! We were just saved by Robin and Kid Flash!" The boy said excitedly. I couldn't help but smile. The kid was kind of adorable.
"Shade, Superboy and Miss Martian helped too." KF added. The Oryx was slowly being put back down when the boy jumped up towards it. "Oryx!" He cried in relief before wrapping his arms around the animal. Miss M soon landed behind us. What I found odd was that she was still invisible. The Bialyans were gone, why didn't she decamo?
"We diverted the Bialyans around the sanctuary. You should be safe now." Robin told the woman.
"Uh yeah, coast is clear Miss M! You can decamo now." Wally told her.
Miss Martian turned visible and let out a nervous "H-hi!"
"You may have made things worse." The woman told us. "Bialyan border crossings are a way of life here. Usually, they wreck a few fences and move on. Engaging them might have made us a target." She glared at us as I blinked in surprise. Wasn't expecting that reaction.
"Mom! Uncool!" The boy told her.
The woman sighed. "Sorry. I should thank you." She walked over to the boy. "This is my son, Garfield. I'm-"
"Marie Logan!" M'gann cut her off. "I can't believe I'm actually meeting you in person!" She exclaimed. I raised my eyebrows. Why was M'gann so excited about meeting her? One of the animals limped towards us and let out a grunt. Marie ran over to it.
"The Oryx is sick and I think you injured this wildebeest." She told us.
"Uh, sorry?" Superboy replied.
"I suppose it was unavoidable. But both need to go to our clinic." Marie said.
"The boys and Shade can do that! You and I can, uh, fix your fences!" Miss Martian said.
"That's not exactly our-" Miss M cut him off.
"Robin!" She pleaded with a hopeful look in her eyes.
"Please mom!" Garfield pleaded with his mother.
"Fine." Robin and Marie said in union. Garfield and M'gann cheered.
…..
The next morning, we made our way to Garfield and Marie's home. The sound of screeching made me look up. A monkey jumped down from the tree, jumped from Superboy to KF, stole his candy bar and then jumped onto Garfield's shoulder. The boy laughed. "It's okay! Meet Monkey!"
"Good name but I hate monkeys." Superboy said. I covered my mouth to stifle the snort that came out when the monkey threw the candy bar at him. The monkey screeched at him.
"Looks like monkeys hate Superboys!" Robin replied.
"Besides, it's better than him throwing crap at you." I added.
"Exactly. Be glad it was just a protein bar." Kid Flash added. Garfield let out another laugh and said "C'mon!" We followed the little boy inside. The house was small but had a cosy feeling to it. "So, pretty weird about Miss Martian and my mom, huh?" He asked.
I raised my eyebrows. "What do you mean?" Superboy asked.
"I mean, she looks exactly like Marie! Y'know, except greener!" He replied.
"She does?" Wally asked.
"I didn't see any resemblance." I added.
"That's because she looks like my mom back when she was a TV star on Hello Megan!" Garfield told us.
My jaw dropped. "That's a thing? An actual show?" I exclaimed.
"I thought it was something she said all the time." Robin added.
"Yeah, on the TV show! Way before we were born. Only one season. You can't even find it online." Garfield turned to the TV. "I know mom has a tape somewhere." He started to search through the tapes and after a few moments he pulled out a tape.
"Hello Megan, the pilot episode!" He cried triumphantly. He blew off the coat of dust that covered the tape and put it in the VHS.
"Whoa, you still have VHS. Where's your eight-track?" Wally commented.
"Wait!" I looked up at Superboy. "Aircraft. Heading this way." We jumped to our feet and ran out the door.
"Gar. Stay put." Robin told the boy. We ran out the door as Marie and M'gann came back.
"What is it?" Marie asked. I looked up when I heard airplanes.
"Get over here now!" I shouted as they started to shoot. M'gann pulled Marie down and Superboy stepped in front of the pair, shielding them.
"Where's my son?" Marie asked, sounding worried.
"I ordered him to stay inside." Robin told her.
"He's eight! He doesn't do orders!" Marie cried.
"Mom!" He turned to see the Oryx run out the barn and Garfield stand in the entrance. "I got the animals out!" My heart sank as gunfire hit the barn. One of the bullets hit the gas tank beside the bar, causing it to explode and send Gar into the air.
"GARFIELD!" Marie screamed as M'gann flew forward and got the boy before he hit the ground. I ran forward to check he was alright. Gar was just a little kid; he didn't deserve any of this. God, I hope he was alright.
M'gann and Conner went to take care of the planes after M'gann handed Gar back to his mother. "I told you there would be consequences!" She snapped at Robin.
"Always." Robin replied.
"C'mon, let's get him inside." I said. We ran back into the house and Marie handed Gar to me, directing me to a room at the end of the hall and mentioning something about getting supplies. KF went with her and Robin and I ran ahead.
Robin pulled open the door and pulled the covers off the bed. I placed Gar down and brushed his hair out of his eyes. I sighed. "I'm sure he'll be okay." Robin said.
"I hope he is." I replied as Marie and Kid Flash ran in, holding a first aid kit and other medical supplies. Marie must have had some medical experience, as she hooked Gar up to an I.V machine easily.
"Get me some bandages." Marie told me. I nodded and dug through the bag. I pulled them out and handed them to her. She wrapped the bandages around Gar's head and pulled out a stethoscope. She gave him a quick check up before telling us "He's in shock. He needs a blood transfusion now. Are any of you O negative?"
"No." Robin told her.
"Sorry." Kid Flash and I apologised in union.
"Neither am I. It's the hardest to match. I kept a supply in the clinic." Marie said. She was trying to stay calm but you could see how worried she was.
"I can run him to the nearest hospital!" Kid Flash told us.
"The nearest hospital with a guaranteed blood supply is half an hour away at your top speed. Longer by Bioship." Robin replied.
"He doesn't have that much time. What's Superboy's blood type?" She asked.
"He's Kryptonian and Miss Martian-"
"Might be able to help." We turned to her and Miss M started to explain. "My shape shifting occurs at the cellular level. I think I can morph my blood to match his."
"Please try!" Marie begged as she grabbed her arm.
"I'll need to concentrate. No distractions." Miss M said.
"We'll get out of your way then." I said before Robin and I left the room. Marie closed the doors and we went back into the other room. Robin sat down and sighed. "And on top of all this, Harjavti steps down tomorrow, subjecting all of Qurac to this danger. KF can you find a news station?" Robin asked.
"Sure, which remote is it?" Wally asked as he picked up a couple of remotes. He pressed a button on one of them and the static was replaced by a logo that said 'Hello Megan!' and an annoying theme tune. My eyes widened when I saw the girl. She looked exactly like M'gann.
What the hell?
"Maybe it's a coincidence." Superboy said. I raised my eyebrows when she called the boy Conner.
"Oh yeah, pure coincidence." KF said.
"It's done." We whipped around to see M'gann standing there. "All we can do is wait." KF quickly changed the TV show to the news which showed Harjavti at another press conference.
"My fellow Quracis." I elbowed Robin and pointed towards the TV.
"Is that Harjavti?" M'gann asked.
"Queen Bee's rule is a gift to Qurac." It really isn't.
"That guy in the back! I know him." Conner said.
"It's Psimon, the psychic we fought the last time we were in Bialya. He was working for Queen Bee then, he must controlling Harjavti now!" M'gann told us.
"I still remember the headache from when he brain-blasted us." Wally groaned.
"We have to get Harjavti away from him." Robin said.
"I think it worked." We turned to Marie. "Garfield's stable." I let out a sigh of relief.
"Good because we have our mission." Robin told her.
…
We travelled to Dhabar that night and went to the president's palace. We crawled through the vents to get to Harjavti's office. There was a moment of silence as Robin checked his office before he said "Harjavti's alone." He opened the vent cover and we jumped down. Harjavti was sitting in his seat and was facing the window. I found it odd that he didn't respond. Must be Psimon's doing.
"Where's my daughter? Where's Psimon?" Harjavti asked.
"Forget him. Let's get you out of here." Robin replied. I whipped around as the doors burst open. Men marched into the room, holding various weapons that didn't look like they came from earth.
"Well, well." A Billyan general stepped up. "American heroes here to assassinate the president. Such a shame we arrived too late to stop them."
"Those are Apokoliptan weapons." Conner told us.
"Which they'll use to kill Harjavti, we get blamed and Queen Bee gets to rule Qurac! Form up around the president!" Robin commanded.
"I found Psimon!" M'gann flew after him.
"Wait!"
"I'll get her." Superboy told Robin.
"No! The mission is Harjavti." Robin said and Superboy stayed. We took the soldiers down quickly and a woman ran into the room. It was Harjavti's daughter, Noor. She let out a sigh of relief and ran to her father.
"Thank you for saving my father. We will take care of him now." She told us. We nodded and ran out of the room and went to M'gann. "M'gann we're coming!" Superboy exclaimed when pain erupted in my head. I fell down and screamed, my vision fading to black.
…
My eyes opened and I let out a loud groan. I got up and pinched the bridge of my nose, a migraine pulsing in my head. The boys got up as well and Miss Martian was crouching beside Superboy. "And there's the headache." Wally said. I looked around the room in surprise. The place was a mess.
"Psimon?" Robin asked.
"He brain blasted you. I stopped him." She replied. My eyes widened at the sight of Psimon lying in the rubble as he started to drool. What had M'gann done?
…..
We stood in the president's office as Queen Bee entered the room. She transformed back into Miss M and Robin said "Sorry you had to lie to everyone like that. I couldn't think of any other way to convince the public Queen Bee was behind this."
"Dude! Saving a country! Pretty big win for your first turn as leader." Wally encouraged him.
"Yeah, thanks." Robin said, rubbing his shoulder. I placed a hand on his shoulder and smiled encouragingly at him. "You did good Rob." He smiled back at me.
…..
"And I assure you, the Wayne Foundation is here to do whatever it can to help you and your people to rebuild Qurac." Bruce Wayne and Harjavti were speaking to each other at yet another press conference.
"Gee, Bruce Wayne sure got here fast. Almost like he knew-" Wally was cut off as Robin elbowed him.
"Don't you have a souvenir to collect or something?" He asked. I raised my eyebrow at the pair.
"Hello Megan!" Wally exclaimed before running over to the TV and picking up the tape of Hello Megan! "Something you'd like to tell us?" Wally asked, waving the tape in M'gann's face.
She sighed. "Growing up on Mars was not a happy time for me but I started watching the broadcasts my uncle sent from Earth to teach us about our sister planet. When I saw Hello Megan! something just clicked. Maybe it was the similarities in our names or maybe it was the way all Megan's problems could be solved in twenty-two minutes. All I know for sure is that Megan helped me smile through a lonely childhood. So, when I came to Earth and had to adopt a human form, I choose you." M'gann told Marie. "Well, Megan."
"Which begs the question, what do you really look like?" Robin asked. She got up from her chair and transformed. There wasn't a lot of difference. She was bald and not eyebrows or freckles.
"Bald M'gann. Still hot." I slapped the back of Wally's head and he cried "Ow!"
Conner got up and went towards her. "You know you don't have to put on a mask for me." He told her. She pulled back and transformed back into her usual self.
"I do it for me. This is who I am inside. Please don't be mad." She told Marie.
"Mad? I'm honoured. M'gann you saved my son. He says he's your blood brother now and I agree. You're family." Marie replied. M'gann smiled and hugged the woman.
"Thank you! You can't know what that means to me." M'gann replied.
….
I sighed as I went into Marie's bedroom. She told me there was a bathroom in there that I could use to wash up since the boys were using the other one. I closed the door and switched on the light. I gasped when I saw who was sitting on the bed. "Hello Lila."
"You." I growled as Queen Bee got up from the bed. I pulled out my staff, ready to fight.
She chuckled. "Put the toys away Lila, I only want to talk."
I glared at her and didn't put them away. She sighed. "I was hoping you would be a little more cooperative. Especially for your Godmother's sake." My eyes widened as she pulled out a tablet and showed me the picture on screen. Scarlett was in our apartment reading a book. "Be careful. My men have orders to kill her if something happens to me or if you call your little sidekick friends."
"What do you want?" I snapped, putting my staff back in the holster.
"Oh, I just wanted to see how fine a specimen my super soldier is." I growled as she gripped my chin and pushed my head upwards.
"Luthor was right. You are a fine specimen." She said after a moment. "I really must go but let me make one thing clear," You leaned over to me and whispered in my ear, "If I find out you told your little friends about this meeting, your parents won't be the only ones with bullets in their heads." She pulled back and smiled wickedly at me.
"If you go near anyone I care about I will hunt you down." I threatened. No one was going to hurt my family. No one.
She let out a cruel laugh. "Then what would you do? You'll kill me? What about that little hero rule? What, was it, no killing? My, my, my what would the Justice League think about that? One of their own killing me. The media would have a field day." She grinned at me.
I glared at her, trying to resist the urge to slam my fist into her jaw but Scarlett's life was on the line. I couldn't let anything happen to her. Queen Bee sighed and said "I really enjoyed our little…..chat Lila but I really must be going. Though I have a feeling we'll meet again soon."
The room went dark and I scrambled to the wall to find a light switch. When I turned the lights back on again, Queen Bee was gone.
…..
Well that was dramatic. I really hope I got Queen Bee right! Also I haven't been updating much because I got Batman: Arkham Origins and I have been playing that non-stop. ALSO DID ANYONE ELSE SEE THE DAY OF THE DOCTOR?
murdercrowther- Thank you!
Molly Grace 16- You'll be pleased to know that the trip's is coming in the next chapter. Also thank you!
piggythelaw- Isn't she? She's one of my favourite characters ever! Thanks!