Wally wasn't having a very good day.
Dick had been taken by an evil mercenary who had tortured him and forced him to be a killer, and not even Batman could figure out where Deathstroke had gone.
So, yeah, if Wally was in a bad mood... he had a perfectly good reason to be.
And it wasn't just him, either- M'gann had been cooking nonstop since they had found out he was gone (he wondered if it would be considered stress cooking- probably yes) and she had barely spoken to anyone except Connor since their mission in India. Their mental links had been extremely fragile, too- easily broken down if there was even a thought of their missing friend.
Aqualad kept up a strong façade, playing his part as the team leader and not letting his grief show through. He was blaming himself, though, Wally could tell. It wasn't his fault, Deathstroke would have found a way to take Dick even if Kaldur hadn't been stabbed, but every so often a flash of grief and pain would pass through his face.
Artemis was much the same way as Aqualad, putting up a mask of emotions to hide the pain she truely felt. She had known Dick for a long time- how, Wally didn't know, but she was obviously hurting a lot more than she was letting on, despite the loud arguments she insisted on starting.
Connor was impassive as always, although Wally alone had witnessed the clone's rage. He had walked into the training room and had found Superboy just standing there, staring at the gymnastics equipment that had previously been the favorite place of the little assassin. His normal scowl had been in place, and the clone punched the wall- shaking the room and making a crater- before stalking back outside.
Wally understood. He felt it too.
It was as if someone had stripped away a piece of his soul. Their team felt incomplete without Ren- Robin. And it was negatively affecting everyone, despite how strong they tried to be.
They were all moping around the mission room with Zatara and Captain Marvel 'babysitting', and Aqualad half-heartedly asked to spar. Wally considered it for a moment before accepting. He needed to take his mind off of the problem at hand... and hitting something was a lot more satisfying than lying around in sorrow. Aqualad seemed to understand that.
"Do not hold back," the Atlantian requested, and Wally nodded, following him into the white circle that was set aside for training. Kaldur readied himself, and Wally shot forward, disregarding all cautions in his need to vent.
Aqualad let him get close, and stuck out an arm to try and clothesline Wally as he came- but that was one of the things you had to learn to avoid as a speedster, as it was a common move to try. Wally dropped to his knees and skidded underneath his arm, sliding behind the team leader and lashing out with a kick. It connected with Aqualad's back, but he rolled forward with the momentum, whipping around and aiming a fist at Wally's head.
Wally dove backwards and Kaldur's fist barely missed his chin. The Atlantian followed through, aiming a kick for Wally's chest, and Wally rolled aside, springing to his feet. He darted forward and used his superspeed to send lightning quick punches at Aqualad's chest. Kaldur stumbled back, and Wally charged again, but Aqualad lashed out with a kick, and Wally was forced to pull back to avoid being hit.
They froze for a moment, staring at each other from across the circle, and Wally suddenly realized that it had helped to spar. The anger, the pain, and the guilt was still there, but now he felt like he could actually do something about it.
He relaxed and grinned at Aqualad thankfully, and Kaldur returned the gesture, smiling softly. Suddenly, the zeta beam lit up.
"Recognized, Batman, 02."
"Computer, national news," Batman ordered, stepping out of the tube and striding forward. The cave pulled up a holodisplay of the current news, with Cat Grant reporting.
"The initial attack was short-lived, but Metropolis was only granted a short reprieve."
The camera was angled towards the city, and Wally gasped at the sight of dozens of vines thrashing and writhing around the city. A few had managed to twist themselves around buildings, and even as they watched one of the vines tightened and smashed an apartment building to dust.
"And despite the intervention of Superman and the Justice League, there seems to be no end in sight," Cat Grant continued, as scenes of various Leaguers rescuing people and battling plants were shown.
"Is our help requested?" Aqualad asked, and Batman turned around.
"No. The League will soon have the situation under control, that's not why I'm here."
Wally felt a surge of hope- news on Robin?
But Batman only looked towards the holodisplay as a picture of Sportsmaster was displayed.
"According to your intel, Sportsmaster supplied CADMUS's blockbuster formula to Kobra."
"And mixed it with Bane's venom to create Kobra Venom, yeah," Wally confirmed dully, and Batman sent him a look but didn't comment on his tone.
"The Brain used that to create his animal army and upgrade Wolf," Superboy put in, rubbing Wolf's muzzle affectionately.
"The Brain also used inhibitor collars, like the ones used in Belle Reve," Miss Martian added, and Wally could almost see the wheels turning in all of their heads.
Artemis stepped forward.
"Batman... is it possible that those plant thingies are on Kobra Venom, too?"
"I had Green Lantern run a spot analysis," the Dark Knight said, waving his hand. A new holodisplay appeared, this one displaying cells apparently taken from the plants. "The vine cellulose does contain trace amounts of a Kobra Venom variant."
"These cannot be coincidences," Aqualad muttered. "Unrelated criminals are cooperating with each other worldwide." He frowned. "Could this... could this possibly be a result of the secret organization that Robin had tried to warn us of?"
The entire group winced at the assassin's name, but Batman nodded. He was about to reply when suddenly the holodisplays were replaced by static.
"What's going on?" Wally asked, as the Dark Knight began to type frantically.
"Someone's hacked into the satellite feed," Batman growled. "All of them."
A moment later, the static disappeared, and suddenly Wally was wishing it would go back to static again.
Joker.
The Clown Prince of Gotham banged on the camera, grinning maniacally.
"Ladies and gentlemen, we interrupt your regularly scheduled mayhem to bring you this important announcement." He drew a long knife from his suit and gestured to the side. "From the Injustice League." Joker chuckled, as if barely containing his mirth.
Wally shivered, and beside him the entire team had mixtures of horror and fascination on their faces. Batman was glaring at the screen so intensely that Wally was surprised that it didn't burst into flames.
The camera was turned, and the team gasped at the sight before them.
Black Adam, Wotan, Count Vertigo, Poison Ivy, Atomic Skull, and Ultra Humanite... and then the Joker.
Oh boy. This couldn't be good...
Vertigo began to speak.
"We are responsible for the attacks on your cities. If you wish to save them, a ransom of ten 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..."
The camera suddenly moved back to the Joker.
"The longer we get to have our... jollies," the clown finished, and then he began to laugh- suddenly something very tiny shot across the screen behind Joker, so fast that even Wally barely saw it. What had that been?
The picture faded to static once again.
As the team stared at the blank screen in shock, Batman cocked his head as if listening to something, and then lifted his hand to his ear.
"Roger that, Aquaman. The UN will prepare the ransom as a fallback... but it won't come to that."
"Well," Artemis deadpanned, "there's Robin's secret society."
"Not so secret anymore," Connor grumbled.
Wally frowned.
"Wait a second. There was something... it went by too fast for normal eyes to see." He glanced at Batman. "Go back a few seconds."
Batman complied, going through the last several seconds frame by frame. A tiny object was captured by the camera, shooting across the screen, and it only lasted five frames. Batman zoomed in on it, and Wally gasped.
A tiny, metal 'S'. The insignia of the one person that they had been searching for.
"Deathstroke," Wally hissed, not even bothering to hide his anger.
Batman narrowed his eyes at the insignia.
"If Deathstroke the Terminator is there as well, we may be able to discover the location of Robin as well. But why would Deathstroke make himself known like that? It isn't like him..."
Wally frowned.
"Deathstroke wants us to know that he is there," Aqualad said, narrowing his silver eyes at the screen. "Is it a trap?"
"Most likely," Batman answered. "Although I am uncertain if the Injustice League is aware of Deathstroke's presence. But, despite the appearance of the mercenary, we still need to protect our cities."
"Right. Let's go kick some plant creature butt," Wally sighed, half-heartedly pumping his fist in the air. Batman shook his head.
"The Justice League will handle the plants. I have a different job for this team."
The team blinked at him in confusion.
"With plant creatures planting so many creatures simultaneously, there must be a central control system. Your mission is to destroy it."
Zatara, who had remained silent next to Captain Marvel this entire time, stepped forward, an uncertain look on his face.
"You realize what you are asking them to do?" he asked, and Batman nodded.
"They're ready."
For a second, Wally couldn't figure out what they were talking about.
"Ready? Ready for what?"
He hissed as Artemis smacked his arm- and not lightly, either! That girl had some strong arms!
"Ow!"
"Hello, Wally!" she growled. "If the big guns are fighting plants, who do you think we'll be fighting?"
Wally still wasn't following, but Artemis directed her finger towards the holodisplay, and Wally froze.
"Oh."
Yeah, oh. This wasn't going to be easy... not at all.
But...
Wally glared at the holodisplay, at the tiny 's' shape.
If he could just get his hands on that mercenary, he could find out where Robin was.
And he wasn't going to give up until his friend was safe.
_Line Break_
"Apprentice."
Slade watched in amusement as the boy jerked around from where he had been daydreaming.
They were at the Injustice League's base, in a back room that had been set aside for them specifically. Oh yes, the Injustice League was aware of their prescence- but Luthor had given the supervillains strict instructions- they weren't to mess with the mercenary and assassin-in-training.
"Yes, master?"
Slade smiled underneath his mask at the honorific title. He had to say, he was quite enjoying the new and improved Renegade. The boy was completely obedient, honestly believing that he had spent all that time that he was really with the Justice League with Slade, and still had the fire and skill that Slade had selected him for in the first place.
Although... Batman had managed to teach Renegade some new techniques. Despite his hatred for the Bat, he had to admit that his training style was very effective.
"Are you prepared for the battle?" Slade asked his apprentice, and the boy straightened, running his hands over his belt and checking his weapons. He patted the sword at his side.
"Yes, master," he replied. "But, can you tell me who we're fighting?"
"You're fighting," Slade corrected. "As I said before, this is a test. You are to kill your opponents- or as many as you can, but I will be highly disappointed if you cannot defeat them all- should the Injustice League fail."
Luthor didn't really care about the plant, after all. The Injustice League was just a cover up, to hide the Light even further. Slade couldn't care less if the giant plants were destroyed. But once the Injustice League was defeated, Renegade would strike... and his former 'friends' would die.
It was the ultimate test, to see if Psimon's... meddling... would hold. If Renegade could kill his ex-teammates, than it would prove that he could once again be Renegade, apprentice of Deathstroke the Terminator.
"Of course, master. I won't let you down," Renegade said. Slade nodded and put a hand on the boy's shoulder.
"Good, apprentice. Good."
Before anything else was said, suddenly a high-pitched alarm went off. Slade glared at the ceiling in annoyance.
"Come," he ordered, starting for the door. "Let's see if the targets have arrived."
Renegade followed him into the main room, just in time to see Count Vertigo, Wotan, and Black Adam rush out the door. Slade raised an eyebrow.
"Where are they going?" he asked Poison Ivy, who was laying next to a plant root, stroking it lovingly.
"Someone set off the intruder alert," the women drawled, staring at him seductively, but then Renegade came into her sight. Her eyes went wide, and she snarled at the boy. Renegade raised an eyebrow at her, confused.
Slade had viewed their battle from security cameras- apparently Renegade had teamed up with Batman and taken Poison Ivy down. She had escaped, but just barely- and with a larger grudge than necessary.
Narrowing his single eye at her, Slade clenched his fists and raised his chin threateningly- silently daring her to say something. The Gotham villain backed down, but her angry glare continued to bore into the assassin-in-training. Slade stepped in between them.
"How long will it take for them to return?"
Ivy directed her attention back to him with obvious effort.
"Maybe half an hour," she snapped. "Now, leave me be. My baby needs attention... and," her voice dropped to a whisper, "I don't trust little birds near my babies, no matter what you or Luthor may say about mind control."
Slade returned her glare and turned, striding back towards the back room with Renegade following. They passed Atomic Skull, who nodded as the walked past, and Ultra Humanite, who simply stared at them. Joker was cackling near the plant, wriggling his fingers and staring at the screens as he wrecked havoc on the cities.
Slade closed the door behind them as they returned to the room.
"Begin to warm up, Renegade. We have approximately thirty minutes until the battle will begin," he instructed. Renegade nodded and slowly bent backwards until his hands were flat on the ground, starting his warm up routine. Slade doubled checked each of his weapons carefully for a few minutes. It was better to be safe then sorry, after all.
When he looked up again, his apprentice had moved on from stretches and was now sparring with an invisible opponent, throwing kicks and punches into empty air. His form was good, and Slade nodded in approval.
"Very good, apprentice." He settled into his own fighting stance. "Spar with me."
Immediately, the boy changed direction, launching himself at the mercenary with a foot aimed right for Slade's head. Slade blocked the kick and retaliated, swinging a fist towards the boy's ribcage, but Renegade ducked and attacked again, aiming a flurry of well-timed kicks and punches towards Slade's abdomen.
They continued the battle for a few more minutes, until Renegade suddenly charged forward, in a seemingly reckless move that made Slade snort in annoyance. He brought his knee up, prepared to end the fight, but to his surprise Renegade sidestepped the blow and swung his leg into Slade's side. Slade grunted, falling back a step.
That had been one of Batman's moves again.
Slade didn't mind the Dark Knight's training, because it was true that Renegade had improved under Batman's training- and the boy thought that Slade had taught him those moves anyway, thanks to Psimon. But it always annoyed Slade, simply because he truthfully had no idea exactly what Renegade had learned. The moves caught him off guard... and Slade hated to be caught off guard.
He held up a hand, and Renegade relaxed out of his fighting stance.
"Well done, apprentice. But this is only a warm up, remember. Don't push yourself too hard."
Renegade nodded.
"Of course, master. Sorry."
Slade was about to speak again when suddenly a shout and the sound of combat were faintly heard from outside the building. Renegade's hand flew to his sword, and Slade smiled at his eagerness.
"Not yet, Renegade," he chastised. "Wait until the Injustice League has been defeated before you engage." His apprentice frowned, but lowered his hand from the hilt.
Slade smiled. This was it- the final test to prove that his apprentice was finally loyal (disregarding the fact that they had messed with the boy's memories...).
He couldn't wait for it to begin.
_Line Break_
"Miss Martian, Ro- er, Artemis, disappear!" Artemis winced at Aqualad's near mistake, and felt the mindlink tremor as M'gann struggled to hold it together through her grief. "We will keep them busy, you two fufill the mission objective!" Artemis shot one last glance back at the fight- at Count Vertigo sending waves of disorientation at Kid Flash, Superboy on the ground, and Black Adam charging Aqualad- before disappearing into the shadows.
She was nowhere near as stealthy as Robin could be, but she had learned just enough from the League of Assassins to know how to blend in to the shadows. Miss Martian kept them connected with the mind link, and it was easy to sense where the camouflaged Martian was through their minds.
For a long while, they moved through the trees in silence. Artemis kept her eyes open, and an arrow in her hands- she wasn't willing to let her guard down.
"I've lost contact with Aqualad and the others," Miss Martian suddenly said, concern and fear audible in her voice. "Should we-?"
"Sorry, that's not the plan," Artemis said. "I'm sure they're fine, Miss M... and anyway, we need to focus."
She brushed a branch aside from in front of them, revealing a large fortress beyond. An absolutely ginormous plant stuck out from the glass ceiling, stretching towards the sky.
Now they had found their target.
"It's the Injustice League's central control system," she said triumphantly. "That big plant on top is what's controlling all of the other plants worldwide. We take it out, and the cities will be safe!"
"Well, hello..."
Artemis gasped at the unfamiliar voice and whirled around, beginning to pull back her arrow, but before she could manage it a massive vine curled around her legs and up her waist, pinning her arms to her sides and lifting her into the air. She yelped and kicked out, but the vines refused to release her. To her right Miss Martian had been similarly restrained.
Poison Ivy and Ultra Humanite stood behind them. There was a smirk of satisfaction on Ivy's face as Ultra Humanite aimed a hefty-looking gun at them.
"...And goodbye."
Suddenly Miss Martian's eyes glowed with power, and Ultra Humanite grunted in surprise as his gun was telepathically pointed downwards when he pulled the trigger. The bolt of energy that shot from the gun and hit the vines holding them instead of Miss Martian's head, and they were dropped into the swampy water. Artemis let loose her arrow as she fell.
"Sorry, archer girl, but I'm putting an end to your little reconnaissance mission," Ivy called as Artemis aimed another arrow. The Gotham villain raised her arms, and Artemis yelped as dozens of thick vines shot towards her. She managed to roll aside, and began to run, trying to find a better spot to aim from. The plants followed her, slamming into the ground just behind her as she moved. One clipped her heel and made her stumble, but Artemis managed to regain her footing.
Gunfire was coming from behind her, and she seriously hoped Miss Martian was alright as she leaped onto a thick tree root and aimed an arrow. Just as she was about to release it, Ivy smirked and lifted her hand- it took Artemis a second to realize what she had done. The root leaped to the villainess' command, throwing Artemis off and sending her skidding through the mud.
Artemis dragged herself out of the water, wincing, and looked up just in time to see several vines plunging towards her, but before they made contact something made them disintigrate before Artemis's very eyes. M'gann, in camo mode, had saved her.
"Artemis, she's made contact."
"I've what? Oh, the bioship."
Artemis glanced up just in time to see something bright orange soar over their heads- a cage? And the bioship wasn't far behind, soaring past them. Artemis was distracted once again by a flurry of vines, and Artemis was finally able to loose a couple arrows, knocking the vicious plants back.
Without warning, Superboy, Wolf, Kid Flash, and Aqualad all thudded to the ground in front of her. Artemis blinked in surprise, but chose not to comment- she could find out how the heck they got there later.
Superboy immediately set his sights on Ultra Humanite.
"I hate monkeys."
The clone and his pet launched themselves at the monkey, and began a brutal battle. Artemis almost felt sorry for the ape, but then rolled her eyes and fired an arrow at Poison Ivy, who had tried to come up behind them. The plant woman shrieked in anger as an explosive arrow tore some of her "babies" to pieces.
"You'll regret that, girl!"
Ivy threw her arms out and sent even more vines towards her, and Artemis ducked and rolled out of the way. Suddenly Aqualad was beside her, rushing forward, and the Atlantian landed a solid punch on Ivy's chin. She went sprawling backwards.
"We will keep them occupied, complete your mission!" he ordered. Artemis nodded, and drew back an arrow, but switched her aim this time.
Before long, the giant plant on top of the headquarters was covered in explosive and flame arrows. Artemis smirked as she took out the remote detonator.
"My baby!" Ivy gasped, finally seeing the danger... and then Artemis pressed the button.
The explosion was quite spectacular, really- the plant burst into flames and collapsed, fiery vines drooping and falling into the swampy water below. Ivy shrieked in rage, turning her hate-filled gaze towards Artemis.
The archer grinned triumphantly.
"Timber."
And then all Artemis knew was combat.
Ivy was attacking her now, throwing vine after vine, and it was all Artemis could do to avoid being hit. She was dimly aware of Atomic Skull and Joker joining the fight, and then suddenly something slammed into her like a lightning bolt- scratch that, it was a lightning bolt! The electricity pinned her to the ground, and she struggled to get up, but the pain was too great. She could hear the pained cries of her teammates as well.
As suddenly as the electricity had started, it stopped. Artemis painfully pulled herself to her feet.
"The Helmet of Fate," Wotan breathed, sounding awed, and Artemis gasped, turning her head just in time to see Aqualad raise the golden helmet above his head.
"No, Aqualad, DON'T!" Kid Flash screamed, but they could only watch in horror as their team leader lowered the helmet onto his head. There was a bright flash of golden light, and suddenly it wasn't Aqualad standing there, but Doctor Fate, his cape billowing majestically in the wind.
"Wotan, you are mine."
And then the mêlée began again.
Artemis fired arrow after arrow, threw punch after kick after body slam. Out of the corner of her eye she saw Miss Martian throw a tree at the Joker, sending the Clown Prince of Crime flying backwards. Artemis didn't have any time to praise the Martian, as she was forced to turn and engage Count Vertigo a moment later. The man didn't see her coming, and her expertly placed kick slammed into the side of his face. He went flying, and knocked Poison Ivy over in the process. Artemis shot an arrow after them for good measure.
She was momentarily free of opponents, and spotted Kid Flash clutching his arm behind a tree, holding a strip of green cloth. Artemis ran to his side. She had seen enough broken arms to be able to recognize one, and grabbed the cloth to make a splint.
"Hey, that's my souvenir!" he complained, obviously not seeing her intent. She sighed.
"Hold still."
She finished tying it, and saw a 'thank you' forming on his lips, but before any words could be said, something large, white, and furry was thrown into her- Wolf. Kid Flash shouted her name.
It took a moment to get Wolf off of her, and when she rose, Aqua- wait, Dr. Fate- had successfully defeated Wotan. Joker and Ivy were down, as was Vertigo and Atomic Skull. Artemis watched as Ultra Humanite went down as well, from a well placed punch from Superboy.
There was silence for a moment.
"We did it," Kid Flash said quietly, although he didn't sound too happy. "Did anyone see Deathstroke?"
Oh, so that's why he was disappointed. Artemis felt a pang of sadness- no, she hadn't seen Deathstroke. Dr. Fate landed next to them as the team regrouped.
Suddenly, a flash of metal caught Artemis's eye, headed straight for the back of Wally's head. Without hesitating, she threw herself forwards, tackling the speedster to the ground and ignoring his yelp of pain as his broken arm was jostled. The shruikens whistled over their heads.
A cackle split the air, and suddenly a small, dark figure emerged from the building.
"You're my targets? I thought I was going to get a challenge..."
The team gasped, because they recognized that voice, and that laugh...
The figure stepped into the light, and Artemis froze.
"No..."
Renegade, not Robin, was stepping forwards, a katana in his hand. He was wearing his Lexcorp uniform, and there was a confident smirk on his face.
Dr. Fate and Miss Martian took to the air again, and Kid Flash stepped forward nervously.
"Robin...?"
Renegade gave him a look so cold that it made the entire team shiver.
"Who's Robin?"
_Line Break_
Dick charged his targets, slashing forwards with his sword and grinning as they scattered like frightened mice. There was a shout, and then a beam of gold energy flew at him, but Dick smoothly rolled aside. He cast his gaze upwards, glaring at Dr. Fate.
Okay, so the Lord of Order hadn't been part of the plan. Dick didn't even know if Slade was aware of Fate's presence, but there wasn't much to be done about that now. He was to kill them all, and he would follow his orders.
Drawing a handful of shruikens from his belt, Dick hurled them at the archer girl clad in green. She was thrown back and pinned against a tree. Dick tossed an explosive up into the air at Dr. Fate as well, and the Lord of Order went tumbling backwards. There was a shriek, and suddenly the Martian was falling out of the sky, as well- the flames from the explosion had licked her arms. She landed in the swampy water.
There was a roar, and suddenly the Kryptonian clone was charging him, side-by-side with a mutant wolf of some sort. Dick waited until just the right moment before flipping up and over the wolf's head, throwing his sword out and clipping the huge mutt's back leg. The animal yelped in pain, and the super clone shouted in rage, attacking again. Dick handspringed away, but as he landed on his feet a streak of black darted past and knocked him off his feet.
Dick hissed and surged up, but the black streak suddenly grabbed him and pinned him to a tree by his wrists, expertly avoiding his sword. It wasn't a streak- just a boy, actually! A speedster boy...
"Robin! What are you doing? Stop it!"
Dick snarled at him and twisted his wrist out of the other's boy's grip, landing a solid kick in the speedster's stomach.
"I don't know why you keep mistaking me for someone named Robin," Dick growled, "but I'm not him."
He swung his sword in a fruitless attempt to slash the speedster in half, but the redhead ducked and zipped away.
There was a slight disturbance in the air behind him... Dick whipped around, moving his sword across his body just in time to deflect a green arrow from the archer girl. She had pulled herself free from the tree and was aiming at him again-
He blocked her arrows effortlessly, moving steadily forwards. Arrows were a lot slower than bullets...
He had nearly reached her when suddenly there was a roar from behind, and the kryptonian boy came hurtling out of nowhere. A fist smashed into Dick's cheek, and he went skidding backwards across the swamp water. Dick glared at the clone.
"Please, Robin! We don't want to fight you! M'gann, what's wrong with him?" the archer shouted.
The martian was rising shakily, an odd look on her face.
"I-I... I don't know! Someone's been messing with his mind, I can't get my thoughts through to him! I don't think he knows who we are..."
The speedster zipped back to the group, a horrified expression on his face, and the giant wolf and clone joined them.
Aw, great. They were regrouping. Dick readied himself, preparing to attack, but before he could launch himself at his targets he was suddenly snatched up by something huge and gold.
Crap. He had forgotten about Dr. Fate... oh boy, Slade wasn't going to be happy about this!
A large, golden bubble had formed around him and lifted him up into the air. Dr. Fate was hovering beside him, one hand outstretched. Dick clenched his teeth and slammed his fist into the gold energy, but it didn't waver at all. Frustrated, he tried to plunge his katana through the bubble, but the sword bounced off.
"Drows sih ekat," the Lord of Order muttered, and suddenly Dick's katana was wrenched from his grasp. It fell through the shield and disappeared into the swamp water below.
Suddenly, Dick blinked in surprise- was it just him, or was everything... frozen?
"Your observation is correct, boy. I have momentarily slowed time nearly to a standstill so that I may speak with you."
He could do that?
"Yes."
And he could read minds, too?
"Yes."
Dick scowled.
"How are you speaking to me telepathically? The martian said there was something blocking my mind-"
"For a Lord of Order, nothing is impossible, young assassin. Indeed, there is a powerful force blocking your mind from the girl, but I am Fate. Fate controls all."
"Release me," Dick growled. "Did Fate not leave me in the hands of Luthor and Slade after Fate killed my parents? This is where I'm suppose to be. Let me finish my job."
Dr. Fate stared at him.
"My host is begging me not to comply, and I must agree with him."
Dick glared at him. That stupid Atlantian...
"Poor child, this is not your Fate."
Not his...
Not...
What?
"You do not belong here," Dr. Fate said calmly. "You have a kind, warm heart deep inside of you, one that not even Deathstroke can freeze."
"Let me go!" Dick growled, pounding on his bubble. The tin-head was wrong- he belonged with his master, and he always had! "You're only doing this to fool me, to give me false hope! My master has trained me for all these years-"
"That is where you are incorrect, child."
"I'm no child!"
"I beg to differ. But enough of that. Fate has decreed that it is not the job of myself to repair you."
"Repair...? I don't need any fixing! I'm FINE!"
"However... I can grant you a small amount of hope. Perhaps in time... you can eventually regain your lost memories."
"Regain my lost what now? I haven't lost any memories! I DON'T NEED YOUR HELP!"
The Lord of Order ignored him, and suddenly his voice filled Dick's mind...
"Dia mih tnarg, sdnammoc etaf sa!"
And suddenly the world was back in real time, and a familiar war-cry was filling his ears. Dick looked up just in time to see Slade leap up from the ground and slam into Dr. Fate. They both went crashing into the swamp. The Lord of Order's containment bubble faded, and Dick was released.
"Dr. Fate was not anticipated to be here," Deathstroke snarled to Dick, drawing his sword and advancing on Fate. "Engage your targets. I'll handle Fate."
Dick nodded, turning back to the rest of his targets.
"Deathstroke!" the speedster growled, tensing as if he was about to charge forward, but Dick reached behind his back and pulled out a small handgun. Taking aim, he fired towards them.
It was the strangest feeling- like it had been a long while since he'd last shot a gun. His aim was slightly off the first couple shots, and it annoyed him to no end. The speedster zipped around the bullets, and the archer dodged them. The martian somehow managed to stop them in midair. Dick wasn't stupid enough to shoot at the kryptonian clone, but he had other ways to take him down.
He reached into his belt and brought out the specially built kryptonite shruiken. He sent it whirling through the air, but didn't wait to see it impact- he knew his aim would be true, and the clone didn't seem like the agile type.
Dick placed his gun back in its holster. He had three shots left- he needed to make them count.
The wolf creature attacked him next, and Dick narrowed his eyes as it's snapping teeth closed just inches away from his nose. He moved to impale it on his sword, but before he could kill it an explosive arrow hit his shoulder and threw him backwards.
The archer shot another arrow, but Dick tossed a shruiken to block it, and the two weapons collided in midair. As she raced to reload, Dick darted forwards and sent his sword striking towards her exposed stomach. She managed to block it with her bow, but his katana easily sliced through her bowstring, rendering her useless.
The wolf creature tried to attack again, and Dick called on his acrobatic skills, flipping out of the way before it got to him. The wolf collided with the archer, and they both went flying backwards.
A whirlwind of black suddenly appeared around him, running circles around him. Dick knew that he wasn't fast enough to keep up with a speedster, so he took the opportunity to make sure the kryptonian was still down- he was.
But the martian... where was the mar-
WHAM!
Dick hissed in pain as the massive floating tree branch tried to attack him again, courtesy of the camouflaged martian girl. He cartwheeled out of the way, but as he landed on his feet a blur of color slammed into him, sending him into the muddy water.
"Dick, STOP! Come on, we're your friends! Please, Dick, remember me?" the speedster whispered frantically, standing over him. "I don't want to fight you!"
Dick froze when the redhead spoke his name.
How did he know? That was impossible! And, wait, did he say that they, his targets, were his friends? He had never met any of them before in his life!
But... this was something he could use to his advantage.
He lowered his sword and took a cautious step forward.
"Friends?" Dick said, not entirely faking the confusion on his face. He closed the small gap between himself and the sidekick. He could see hope in the other boy's eyes as he lowered his guard-
And then Dick fired the gun.
The speedster let out a shout of pain as the bullet went through his left calf, crumpling to the ground. It wouldn't keep him down forever, but it would work just long enough for Dick to do his job.
"I don't know you," Dick growled, lowering his sword to the boy's neck. "And I'm sorry, but I'm going to have to kill you now."
There was real fear on the speedster's face, his emerald eyes wide. Dick lifted his sword, a second away from ending the target's life-
Golden light flashed in front of his eyes-
"Hey, Dick! What's up?"
"No way, dude! A pirate could beat a ninja, hands down!"
"You betrayed us... were you ever even really our friend? Or were you just using us?"
"Traitor!"
"I'll... I'll try to forgive..."
"Heck yeah! Zombie Killer 6 is my favorite one!"
"DICK!"
Dick cried out in pain as images and words flashed through his mind, all of the same redheaded speedster on the ground before him. He reeled backwards, struggling to maintain a firm grip on his sword.
What had just happened? What had that been? Those weren't his memories!
What was going on?
His head was pounding painfully, and he felt dizzy.
An explosion sounded from behind him, and he looked over to see Slade racing towards him as Dr. Fate struggled to recover from the mercenary's explosives.
"Master, I-" Dick began, wincing as his headache continued to throb, but the man simply pointed up. Dick lifted his head to gaze upwards, and gasped at the sight. .
The entire Justice League was descending towards them, and they did not look happy.
Deathstroke was beside him now, having dodged a batarang from Batman.
"The mission is a failure, apprentice," he growled in Dick's ear. "We will discuss your mistakes later."
Dick winced- he really didn't like the sound of that.
The League was closing in, and Dick reached into his belt, pulling out a handful of smoke pellets. Behind him, he could hear Slade doing the same thing. Dick threw them down, and then area was covered in thick smoke.
The last thing Dick saw before the smoke hid them from sight was the speedster, standing side by side with the martian, and equal looks of horror and grief on their faces.
And then he blended into the shadows and smoke, and disappeared.
A/N: I'm back! Eh, I'm not a fan of the beginning of this chapter. I hope it was okay for you guys. So, as you might have noticed, updates are going to be much slower for the next two, maybe three weeks. I'm so sorry about that guys, it can't be helped.
Okay, I just wanted clear something up real quick. Just because some of Dick's memories were altered and he can't remember his teammates doesn't mean he's a completely different person. He's still the same Dick Grayson- but in his head he thinks he's been apprenticed to Slade this entire time, and that makes him more ruthless than the team is use to. Does that make sense? I hope it does. PM me if you've got any questions.
Okay, so I've got a question for y'all: I was thinking hard about this story, and I decided that if I really wanted to, I could take this thing up to 45 chapters. Would this story get old if I did that? Because I don't have to do that(a lot of the extra chapters are not episode related), or I could just continue with the TV storyline (kind of) and have maybe, like 35 chapters. What do you guys want?
Anyone curious to find out what exactly Dr. Fate did to Dick? Well, you'll find out... in later chapters! MWUHAHAHAHA!
Anyway, I hope you enjoyed it. Thanks for the reviews, you guys are the BEST!
