Episode 26: Auld Acquaintance
Mount Justice, December 31 2010, 07:16 EST
Swift yawned as she and her team walked down the length of the corridor.
"Remind me again why we can't have a lie in? We totally kicked ass yesterday!" she grumbled sidelong at Aqualad who fixed her with a stern look.
"We have every reason to feel proud of yesterday's victories. But one thing has not changed."
"Somehow the bad guys are still getting inside intel about us?" Robin grabbed her hand and pulled her up so that she was level with him.
"Great just great" She rolled her eyes yawning again.
"Yeah! But still at least we know none of us are the mole" Kid Flash added happily as they stepped into the main hall where Batman and Red Tornado were waiting for them patiently.
"That's correct" the Dark Knight growled as he typed onto a holo computer "The mole was…Red Arrow"
Swift eyes widened all sleepiness forgotten.
"Roy…" Robin gripped her hand following her train of thought as Kid Flash yelled in disbelief.
"No way!"
"Batman that cannot be" Aqualad stepped forwards his face strained by disbelief "He was Green Arrow's protégé. We have all known him for years."
"Unfortunately" Red Tornado said mechanically as always "The Roy Harper we have known for the last three years is another Project CADMUS clone"
"What…" Swift's voice cracked slightly. This just could not be true, it couldn't. She had to force herself to listen as Batman continued the explanation calmly.
"The real Speedy was abducted and replaced immediately after becoming Green Arrow's sidekick. The clone was pre-programmed with a drive to join the Justice League, which is why he was so angry over any delays to his admission, and why he refused to join the team. This Roy Harper had no idea he was a clone…or a traitor. And his subconscious programming drove him to become…League worthy, so he struck out on his own as Red Arrow. When he was finally admitted, his secondary programming kicked in, and he attempted to betray the League to Vandal Savage. Fortunately, I had already deduced Red Arrow was a clone. We were prepared"
"Savage was subdued, but Red Arrow escaped. He is now a fugitive. Armed and dangerous" Red Tornado finished off.
"If you guys hadn't rescued me from CADMUS…" Superboy scratched the back of his neck as a chill of foreboding ran up his spine.
"What…what happened to the real Roy?" Robin was still looking rather shocked but he held himself together.
"We don't know. He isn't at CADMUS. We have to face the possibility that the real Roy Harper…is dead" Batman broke off as a tiny sniff became audible. They all looked to see Swift scrubbing at her masked eyes.
"It's alright" she mumbled as Robin put a hand on her shoulder. She tried smiling but her lips could barely do anything besides tremble. She and her partner leaned into each other just as the Kid Flash looked down at the ground and Aqualad grit his teeth, before boldly looking up.
"The cloned Roy. The Team will find him" he declared but Batman shook his head.
"Negative. Red Arrow is a member of the Justice League now. Leave him to us. Swift I need you to come with me"
"But-" Swift tried to say but Batman cut across her firmly.
"That wasn't a request. That was an order. We're needed at the Watchtower. Tornado, stay with the rest of the kids"
He barked as he strode forwards and grabbed her by the shoulder.
"Ok! Ok! Geeze! You don't need to be so rough." she struggled slightly as she gruffly tried to shrug him off but he wouldn't relinquish his hold. She sighed heavily. "Sorry guys…I guess I'll have to see you all later" She turned back looking apologetically at Robin who was looking a little bewildered as she was steered towards the Zeta tube.
She would've turned round for one last glimpse of them all but Batman's hand on her shoulder was surprisingly painful. She winced a little as the Zeta tubes yellow light engulfed her and the familiar disorientation set in as her body was zapped across to the portal's other side.
Recognised Batman 0-2, Swift B-0-2
Swift opened her eyes and blinked. She and Batman had reappeared at the top of a small flight of stairs overlooking a large hall. It was strange. It had a roof and columns on all sides but otherwise it was almost completely open.
Swift felt her eyes drawn to the open space in front of her where she could see the massive sphere of the Earth as they hovered over Northern America.
Wow…was that just the planet she'd just been on?
She felt Batman's grip on her shoulder tighten
"Dad what-" she gasped.
A dark skinned man with black hair, three scars across his face and wearing a long dark blue coat with red lining walked up towards her up the stairs, his brown eyes glinting with triumphant glee.
Swift felt her breath catch in her chest as something ice cold, that wasn't something to do with her own powers, flooded through her veins.
"V-V-Vandal S-Savage?!"
"Hello Miss Swift" Savage smirked, thrilled at her obvious terror. He looked up at Batman whose face remained completely blank. "Thank you Batman. I will take it from here"
Swift didn't even have a chance to bolt. Batman had been fast to shove her arm into Savages grip before turning on his heel.
"Dad! No!"
But he was already walking away towards the other end of the hall. He didn't even respond. Savage grabbed her as she began to struggle wildly.
"DAD! PLEASE! I KNOW YOU'RE IN THERE! JUST LISTEN TO ME! DAD! DON'T LEAVE ME!"
He was turning around a corner. He hadn't even turned round to look at her as she screeched out for him, tears streaming down her face.
"DAD! WAKE U-"
"SILENCE!"
KATHWACK!
Swift put a hand to her cheek as she felt something in her mouth crack. She looked up and stared at Savage through wide tear stained eyes.
"I would recommend you keep your mouth shut if you know what's good for you, you noisy brat" he spat down on her as he pulled her up to her feet.
"What…What have you done to him?" she sobbed trying to tug away from him.
"Oh nothing much that you'll need to worry your pretty little head about" he sneered.
"You let him go!"
"Him? Just him? Your entire world balancing on the edge of a knife and all you bargain for is the life of only one of the people you hold dear?"
She winced as the grip on her wrist became so painful she was sure that it would break under any more pressure. He pulled her up by the wrist into the air so that her face dangled dangerously in front of his.
"I won't release him. Not until I make him kill you, torture you, in every single most horrific, sadistic and vulgar way he knows you fear. And then when he's done I'll wake him up just long enough to see his good work and I being the merciful man I am, will end his suffering by snapping his neck just as he breaks."
"You…You…You won't-ngh!-get away with this….I…I won't let you" She sobbed through gritted teeth trying to dispel the horrific images flashing across her mind.
Savage burst out laughing, the chortles of malicious pleasure bouncing off the walls and ceiling, reverberating around the room, shaking Swift to her core. He dropped her to the ground where she landed on her front painfully.
She tried to scramble to her feet but his large booted foot flicked out, almost lazily to kick her hard in the guts.
"Tch! You won't let me?! You little brat. Do you think that just because you're the protégé of Batman that you're really anything special? Say what you want. Do what you want. It won't change the fact that you're nothing but a pathetic child trying to cling onto your dreams and devotions in hopes that you'll be saved from a darkness of your own making. Wake up or else you'll end up just like that good for nothing father of your-"
Savages eyes widened in shock as, suddenly as a rattlesnake bite, she lunged at him, freezing wind wrapping around her hand, solidifying till it was a sharply tipped icy claw.
He pulled up an arm to grab her and fling her off. She was tossed away but she hovered in mid-air muscles tense, eyes blazing with the wrath and might of an icy blizzard.
"Don't you dare…Don't you dare talk about my father that way you…you…" she growled feeling the familiar tingle of ice cold energy wrap around her fingers as she righted herself in the air.
"F-ING MONSTER!"
She lunged at him again this time flinging her hands forwards.
A blast of cold energy surged at Savage who dodged, but not before several sharp shards of ice hurtled through the air at him like daggers, one grazing his left temple.
Savage's breath hitched in his throat as he saw a couple of locks of his rough black hair float to the ground. Another loud blast and he looked up just in time to roll over to the side as a blasting birdarang was flung at his spot.
The smoke billowed around him as he stood up, but not before he caught sight of a small shadow
Hmmph! Bats. Always trying to hide behind a smokescreen
he smirked lunging forwards in the smoke to grab what he thought would be an arm.
Instead he jerked his hand back with a sharp intake of breath.
In front of him was, not a living breathing girl, but a solid cold life size statuette.
"What the?"
He winced as in the corner of his eye something bright yellow flashed and whirred.
Recognised Swift B-0-2
"NO!" he growled in frustration as he lunged for the zeta tube, but too late.
Swift was already gone.
"Aquaman! Green Arrow! Hawkman! Flash! After her! Capture her alive, NOW!"
Washington D.C., December 31 2010, 09:04 EST
Red Arrow huffed and puffed as he quickly locked the door to his apartment before sliding down against it.
"Shit!" he muttered wiping at the half dried blood under his nose. "Shit! Shit! Shit!"
He could not believe it! Just earlier yesterday he was overjoyed! Happy! He'd finally become a member of the Justice League, he'd had a team of friends, glory, honour, and now…now…all he was, was a traitor.
A low life, good for nothing, traitor.
He opened his eyes gritting his teeth as he sat there for a moment. He let himself soak in the grey light of the cloudy sky leaning his sweaty head back into the hard wood of the door half wishing he could sink into it and never come out again.
Then a tiny dot appeared far off in the distance, moving and jerking about in the sky above the buildings.
Great…Now I'm a traitor and a psycho …
He grunted watching the dot come closer and closer, winding its way clumsily. Soon the figure of a person became noticeable.
Red Arrow sprang to his feet, fitting the arrow to the string on autopilot but for some strange reason his fingers didn't let the arrow fly.
What the hell is wrong with you! Shoot them goddamn it!
He waited, the bow shaking a little in his fatigued hands as the figure hurtled closer and closer till…
Red Arrow ducked down as the window burst apart with a resounding smash, sending shards of sharp glass flying everywhere like bomb shrapnel.
As soon as the shards had finished flying, he leapt up his arrow once again prepared to strike.
"AHHH! DON'T SHOOT! DON'T SHOOT!"
He stopped in his tracks… only just in time.
"Chris?"
The bow arrow dropped to the floor with a clatter as Red Arrow swooped down to pull her up off the ground and into his arms.
"Christine what the- What the hell happened to you?!" Red Arrow tugged her away to get a good look at the girl wonder. Her dark brown hair was wildly messed up, with shards of glass sticking out of it from every angle while the black material over her arms and legs was lightly torn and scratched, a couple of places bleeding with shallow cuts. He heard a choking sob and saw up close up that her face was covered with tears.
"Roy! Roy! You've gotta help me! Savage he-he's after me– Dad handed me over to him – the-the league…the league…"
"…Chris?" Red breathed panic hitting him like a hard stroke to a gong, as Swift's eyes rolled back into her head and she fell into his chest, motionless and still.
"CHRIS?!"
Something clattered behind him and Red Arrow turned his head.
The door handle to his apartment was jiggling around as if someone were trying to turn it.
Red Arrow quickly settled Swift down to the ground as gently as he could before snatching up his bow and arrow and readying it to face the door.
There was a pause as the doorhandle stopped twisting, before…
CRASH!
The door flew open revealing a familiar dark skinned, blonde haired young man with stern green eyes.
"I have not come to harm or apprehend you, but the Team requires answers" Aqualad said calmly, though it was as plain as day that the Atlantian boy's muscles were as tense as the bowstring set to fire.
"Me first!" Red stepped over Swift's unconscious body to protectively stand over her. "Tell me something you haven't told anyone else. Tell me who broke your heart"
Aqualad's features softened with anguish.
"Tula…The girl I loved chose my best friend Garth over me. While my best friend on the surface world aims an arrow at my chest"
Red Arrow lowered his weapon down slowly and stepped back to his friend to make his way to Swift who was lying abnormally still on the ground.
"Is she ok?" He asked his voice quavering slightly. She was usually so bright and full of energy and now here she was, lying so motionless on the floor, frailer and more fragile than a dying kitten. It was absolutely terrifying.
Aqualad quickly pressed his fingers close to her neck. Her pulse was strong and steady. He held his ear close to her mouth and sighed in relief as he felt her warm breath tickle his ear in slow even inhalations.
"She'll be alright. She's just used up too much energy"
"Oh thank god!" Red ran a hand through his hair to wipe away the sweat. "Thank god…"
Mount Justice, December 31 2010, 07:20 EST
Huh? KIDS?!
Robin was still seething about the comment long after Batman had left with his partner. He scowled darkly as Aqualad turned to all of them speaking through the mental link
Clone or no clone, Red Arrow was one of us. We will go after him.
There was a strange clunking sound behind him, and they all turned to see Red Tornado now freezing in a spot behind their leader his hand up hovering close to his gilled neck.
Tornado!
What happened to him?
He's totally powered down
Kid peered up into the face of the android, noticing the lack of movement in the eyes. Robin and Swift exchanged glances and both pulled up their holo computers
All functions offline.
Uh…guys.
Zatanna's voice sounded very unsure
I'm sensing a low level mystic force at play. I don't know if it caused his shutdown. But now that I think about it I was getting the same buzz off Batman.
Batman…he called us kids… He never does that…
Robin narrowed his eyes scanning Red Tornado's body.
And he never treats Swift so roughly either.
Kid Flash reached out to one of the robot's hands.
Look…One of those bio-tech chips we confiscated off Cheshire
He held up the strange red chip in his hand.
Something is not right
Aqualad frowned.
Robin, Kid, Zatanna, Rocket. See if you can get Tornado back online. The rest with me to find Ro-Red Arrow
Aqualad turned his back and led Artemis, Superboy and Miss Martian away to the Zeta tubes to depart.
So now what?
Rocket asked looking at Robin who looked at his computer.
The problem is Hardware not Software…but where do we start?
"I have a thought" Zatanna muttered glaring up at the ceiling where the hatch to Red Tornado's apartment was shut.
It took them a good fifteen minutes for Rocket and Zatanna to safely manoeuvre Red Tornado's Android alter ego down onto a platform beside his normal robot body, by which time Kid and Robin had managed to summon from the floor two adjacent platforms and holo computers to monitor their download.
"Download in progress" Robin muttered watching carefully as the load up bar popped up on the screen.
"So… Tornado built this android…to party?" Rocket raised her eyebrows as she looked down at the synthetic but humanoid face.
"Not how he put it but yeah, more or less" Zatanna shrugged.
Everyone else tilted their heads to the side just as a zeta tube whirred into life.
Recognised: Black Canary 1-3
They all looked up to see the beautiful blonde heroin stride towards them from the tube her face marred by gentle concern.
"Hey guys. Wanted to check in see how you're handling the-WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO RED?!" she suddenly yelled in anger as she caught sight of the robot and android bodies on the slabs.
"It's not how it looks!" Kid cried out in total denial.
"It looks like you're downloading his consciousness into a new body" Black Canary's eyes narrowed.
There was a beep and a small pause as the download bar finished loading and red text flashed up on the screen saying "download complete"
"Ok…it's pretty much exactly how it looks" Kid grinned sheepishly as Robin rolled his eyes resisting the urge to facepalm.
But before he could say anything at all, the android on the slab's eyes snapped open and cried out with Red Tornado's voice.
"Team get out of the Cave NOW!"
Black Canary's eyes widened for a moment in shock, before blasting open her mouth and letting loose a canary cry.
Robin hit the deck as Red Tornado's android body was split apart by the sheer force of the scream, the torso hitting Kid Flash and the legs hitting Rocket and Zatanna.
As soon as she'd belted it out completely, Robin flipped back onto the now empty slab and lunged at her. She threw each of him off quickly, sending him toppling to the ground.
As he landed he pressed his belt buckle and a tiny little smoke bomb which he'd planted on Canary's shoulder exploded into a haze of knockout gas in her face.
Rocket made a spherical barrier around the struggling heroin, trapping her and the smoke inside.
There were a couple of moments of frantic scrabbling inside before they heard a disoriented grunt and a thud. A hand dragged across the surface of the sphere, slowly sliding downwards as Canary fell unconscious.
"Black Canary attacked us?" Zatanna breathed staring at their fighting instructor in alarm.
"Black Canary is the least of our problems" the Android Red Tornado torso, struggled onto his elbows and looked at them all with a very stern look "We must abandon the cave"
Recognised: Icon 2-0, Doctor Fate 1-7, Captain Marvel 1-5
But no sooner had the last numeral sounded the frantic teens were already zipping out the side of the mountain
"Phew" Robin sighed sinking back into his chair as he pulled them up higher into the air.
"Stay off your radios" Red Tornado commanded "Let the Super cycle track Superboy, instruct her to mask all signals. We cannot allow the League to track us"
"Right…of course. Just one question… WHY IS THE JUSTICE LEAGUE AFTER US?!" Kid Flash cried out angrily.
"The entire League is under the complete mental domination of Vandal Savage." Tornado explained as they flew over the harbour water. "Red Arrow seems to have been his means. His method, was something Vandal referred to as Starro Tech. An alien vile organism infused with nano-technology and magic. It shuts down the minds autonomy, allowing Savage to reprogram the individual to suit his needs. Even my inorganic brain was not immune. But the process requires 0.16 nanoseconds to fully integrate with its host's nervous system. That delay allowed me to create an internal sub-program, which would disconnect my power cells if I attempted to infect another person. Fortunately the Starro-tech is body specific. As John Smith I am now free of outside control."
"This Starro-tech it worked on super-powered humans, four flavours of aliens, an android and even Doctor Fate! Defeating all of you without a fight and…and..."
"Wait hang on you don't mean-" all the colour drained from Kid's face as comprehension dawned. "Oh god no!"
"Indeed," Red Tornado admitted nodding his humanoid face suddenly looking downcast as if ashamed "a remarkable achievement. One not so easily countered but that is the least of your worries. Unfortunately I was not able to override the programming in time to prevent Batman from capturing Swift. If I had I can assure you I would never let it happen. I'm sorry"
Robin grit his teeth and suddenly bashed his fist against the side of the Super cycle.
"Damn it… DAMN IT!"
The others watched on silently with pity as he gripped harshly at the roots of his dark hair, roaring out his anger, anguish and aggravation.
How could he have been so stupid?! Why hadn't he listened to his bad gut feelings? He remembered the fearful look as Swift had turned to look back at them all before disappearing in that flash of yellow light…and now she was in the clutches of one of the most dangerous villains the Justice League had ever faced.
Miss Martian! Miss Martian are you in range?
Robin cried out desperately, hoping against hope that the Martian girl would telepathically hear him. He sighed in relief as she her respond, her voice wavering slightly as she tried to hold herself together.
Right here Robin. Linking both squads and De-camouflaging
And sure enough above them the dark shadow of the red ship became visible over their heads.
Great! Because we really need to compare notes
As soon as the Bio ship had encased the Super Cycle whole, Robin jumped out of his seat and dashed to the helm yelling in a blur of words as he rushed over to his team leader.
"AqualadSwiftsintrouble! Theleaguehasher! Savagemadethemdoithegavethem-"
"Robin calm down!" Aqualad grabbed Robin's shoulders firmly "Calm down. You're speaking too fast for anyone to comprehend. Take a deep breath-"
"Butwehavenotime-"
"Robin! Breathe!" Aqualad barked as he forced the boy wonder to sit in a chair Miss Martian had summoned.
Robin took a deep shuddering breath looking down at the floor. Everyone else just looked at him worriedly but stood away to give him space.
"That's right Robin just breathe…" Aqualad said patiently as he knelt down to be at eye level "now say what you've got to say, SLOWLY"
Robin nodded, gulping down a couple of breaths before speaking in a raspy gasp. "Red Tornado just told us that the entire Justice League has been infected by the nano-tech Starro chips we confiscated off Cheshire yesterday. He says Vandal Savage organised the whole thing. Red Tornado is now free because we were able to transfer his mind into his new body and the chips are only body specific. But he couldn't stop Batman from taking Swift! And now Vandal Savage has got her and-"
"Robin it's alright" Aqualad squeezed the younger boy's shoulders gently "Swift's fine. She's here in the bio ship"
"What?" the white slits of Robin's eyes were so wide and large now. "How?"
"She escaped on her own. Red Arrow found her on the run"
"You did?" Robin looked at Red Arrow dumbfounded. The archer bristled in his seat.
"No…I didn't find her…she found me…by crashing through a window" he muttered the last bit under his breath, hoping against hope that the bird wouldn't hear him. Unfortunately his prayers went unanswered as Robin flared up at once.
"Crashed! What do you mean? She's not-"
"No she's fine" Aqualad cut off quickly. "She's just exhausted from using her powers. She's resting on the starboard side"
He quickly motioned towards Miss Martian who nodded at the helm and pulled down an organic wall to reveal Swift sitting up on a long slab, her body bare except for her underwear and bra.
"What the hell are you doing? You should be sleeping" Artemis, who had been sitting closest to the door ran and hissed gruffly as she pulled up the sheets on the slab to wrap around the younger girl's shoulders.
"I…I felt…Rob and the others…through the mind link…are…are they here?" Swift muttered in a daze as she tried to reach her toes down to the ground.
"Yes I'm here"
Artemis jumped as Robin suddenly appeared beside her and took the sheets from her hand. He quickly secured the sheets around her shoulders, trying to bite back his horror as he caught sight of the multitude of shallow and deep scratches that riddled her half naked body.
"Guys…can you give us a minute?"
The rest of the team exchanged glances.
"Robin I don't think we have ti-"
"Kal…please"
Aqualad sighed resigned. The boy wonder could be pretty stubborn when he wanted to be.
"Alright…but come out soon… We haven't got much time and we need to formulate a plan."
There was a small silence as Artemis stepped out quickly before Miss Martian closed the wall up on the two birds.
After a small pause, Robin pulled off his mask and sighed deeply.
"Dick?"
Blue eyes snapped open at once to see her pale face with long dark hair hover above, looking very worried.
Christine moved away slightly noticing with apprehension that his gloved hands were trembling.
She reached out with a timid hand and stroked his messy black locks out of his face but as soon as her skin made contact with his, he flung himself on top of her, the both of them landing backwards onto the slab
"Dick!"
She flushed red as he buried his head into her bosom.
But Dick continued nuzzling his face into her flesh, his cheek grazing her bra.
"Oh god Dick stop that" Christine grabbed at the fabric of his cloak, trying to pull him back as he his nose brushed over the spot over her heart. He took a deep inhale.
"…you're ok…"
"What?"
Christine's blush stopped in its tracks as she felt his body begin to tremble as if…
"You're ok" he whispered his voice cracking
She felt something watery dribble down her skin from the point his scrunched up eyes were buried in.
"I was such an idiot!"
"…Dick…"
"I knew something was off about Batman but I still let him take you"
"Shh, Dick it's ok-"
"When Red told us about Vandal Savage I thought…oh god…"
"Dick I'm fine... I'm right here. I'm right here" she repeated listening to his breaths which were beginning to slow down as he gulped down his own sobs.
"I-I'm sorry" Dick sniffed, sounding a lot like he had a head cold. "That was….Acting like a stupid baby, I'm sorry"
"Don't be" Christine smiled softly down on him. "Neither of us knew what was going on…it wasn't your fault" she allowed herself to sink back into the slab, thinking hard.
So much had happened in these past six months. New superpowers, new friends, new mysteries. It was just becoming one big blur of chaos, in front of her eyes.
So much change…so little time
She sighed heavily remembering the words Zephyra had spoken back on Roanoke Island. Three words in particular stood out to her.
Lady of Order…
"Dick…"
"Yeah?"
"Fetch me my uniform. We have work to do."
Well if she was going to live up to her title she might as well buckle up and start acting now!
The Watchtower, December 31 2010, 23:16 EST
Recognised Black Canary 1-3, Red Tornado 1-6, Red Arrow 2-1, Swift B-0-2
The three Justice Leaguers stepped down the stairs dragging the limp and dejected form of their captive behind them.
Savage waited for them patiently as Red Arrow yanked Swift by the scruff of her neck and tossed her forwards to the ground at his new master's feet.
She lay there groaning with pain but barely able to move because of the tight bindings around her. Satisfied, Savage looked up at his minions.
"Any problems?"
Black Canary stepped forwards.
"Despite an initial setback I was able to reinfect Red Tornado and Red Arrow"
"As well as the entire team" Red Tornado added, his voice mechanical again in his newly rebuilt red body. "They await reprogramming back on Earth"
"…I think not" Savage's eyes narrowed and at once he brought his foot down on Swift's meek form. However instead of the rough sole hitting the bones and flesh, it hit only air.
Black Canary, Red Tornado and Red Arrow's eyes all widened as Swift's body vanished in a puff of smoke, the bindings all dropping to the floor, empty and useless. Savage smirked darkly.
"You see Starro Tech does not reprogram the mind, it offers us remote control over it"
"Yeah!" Everyone turned to look upwards towards the ceiling where a scrawny teenager with dark pointy hair and wearing a black suit was sitting in mid-air with an orange cat draped over his shoulders as he perused red holographic images.
"We know exactly who's infected and who's not and NONE OF YOU ARE!"
Klarion sneered down at them all, dark eyes glinting wickedly as he flicked his hand at one of the screens. At once out of nowhere it seemed, Hal Jordan the Green Lantern flew up to them holding out his ring from which green energy burst forth, engulfing all three Leaguers.
"But that is easily rectified" Savage smirked smugly watching them all struggle before striding forwards to circle them, new Starro Tech chips in his hands.
"Fifty thousand years of life. And nothing ever troubled me as much as the founding of the Justice League. Dedicated to maintaining societies calcified status quo. The League would protect mankind from disaster, crime, tragedy of any kind. Have you never heard of the survival of the fittest? In short you…heroes…sought to protect humanity from its own glorious evolution"
He spat disgustedly down on Black Canary as he watched her absorb the chip he'd just placed in her neck.
"As such you forced my more enlightened colleagues and myself to organise a response"
He now proceeded to place a chip into Red Tornado's metal neck.
"We created…a co-operative network of operatives. Placed key individuals in key positions-"
Red Arrow struggled but Savage grabbed him by the roots of his hair and stuck the chip on his skin, barely even pausing in his gloating.
"-Made sure we were on the cutting edge of all new technologies. Genetic Engineering, Bio-Chemical Engineering, Robotics, Nano-Robotics even Techno-Sorcery. Not to mention every conceivable method of mind control."
Savage walked away as Green Lantern removed his green energy from the newly infected heroes, looking out over the rim of the Earth.
"Cold hard science and a little misdirection, and now you champions of stagnation have become our agents of change, forcing the human race to evolve on a more advanced schedule allowing the Earth to take its rightful place at the centre of the Cosmos"
Black Canary, Red Tornado and Red Arrow all stood up, their faces blank as Savage looked over them his face triumphant.
Then there was a cry of annoyance.
"The brat's are aboard" Klarion whined watching a holographic screen, which had a multitude of icons that resembled people flicker in front of him, before some of the icons completely vanished "And they've taken away four of my toys!"
"Recall all League away missions" Savage's eyes narrowed as he growled "It's time to put these children in their place once and for all."
"FINALLY!" Klarion beamed excitedly just as his cat mewled beside him. He quickly put a hand up to scratch its head affectionately behind the ear.
"oh yeah…Hey Vandal, shouldn't those three be back online by now?!"
"What?!" Savage turned round to face the three said heroes just as Black Canary's eyes flashed.
Without warning she let loose a loud canary cry that sent Hal flying and crashing into a wall.
Red Tornado and Red Arrow acted at once, each sending their own attacks at Savage whilst Canary pressed something into Hal's neck that made him drop to the floor unconscious.
She then gave another harsh canary cry, this time aiming for Klarion who lazily summoned up a red pair of ear muffs with his powers, grinning madly.
"You'll be sorry" he hissed in an annoyingly sing song voice as the ground beneath their feet began to shake.
Canary looked up in alarm as a bright glowing light shimmered into existence above them, growing wider and wider till it was more than three metres in diameter.
A boom tube?
But before she could register anything else, six figures leapt out of the glowing portal, landing on their feet in front of her. Six people she knew all too well.
Forgive me guys!
She thought as she aimed another Canary cry at her allies, but she shuddered as Martian Manhunter density shifted straight through her. She was about to grab for him when.
Crack!
Hawkewoman swung her mace hitting her across the face.
As Black Canary fell to the ground, Red Arrow aimed at Martian Manhunter, who promptly density shifted so the projectile went right through him. But as it did so, the arrow head exploded in a small spark of flame.
The Martian gasped in shock and pain as he fell to the ground unconscious.
Red Arrow rolled to the side to avoid being hit by a black batarang and aimed a shot at the Dark Knight who deflected the arrows with his armoured gloves, before rushing at the young archer and pulling him down to knee him in his face.
As soon as he was down, The Green Lantern John Stuart caught Red Tornado in a claw made from the green energy in his ring, allowing Superman and Wonder Woman to tear off both arms and legs, before throwing him to the floor to join his comrades.
Savage glowered down at his attackers, fury bubbling up again from within.
"The children have clearly reverse engineered a Starro tech cure and vaccine, so there's no point in taking them alive"
"Goody" Klarion sneered excitedly. "And the little girl birdy?"
"As soon as you find her…bring her to me alive and unspoiled." Savage said, more towards the mind wiped heroes than anyone else "we still need her…for phase two"
Oh no not again!
Swift puffed as she pulled up short in mid-air in front of another dead end.
There was a swooshing noise as a blue suited, red caped figure floated up behind her.
She quickly turned and cracked a wind ribbon at Superman who quickly dodged before firing his heat vision from his eyes. Swift flew to the side and the Kryptonian followed her with his (literally) scorching gaze, the rays of heat carving a hole in the wall, before trailing after her.
Swift grunted as she collided into a corner of the ceiling before crying out as Superman grabbed her roughly by the arm and flinging her downwards so she fell through the floor, down to the level below.
She fell out into another corridor before someone grabbed her by the arm and caught her securely in a tight hold. She heard his rugged breaths, smelt the familiar musky scent, felt the hard clasp of armour beneath a suit…saw the black gloved hands make to cover her mouth.
She bit down on Batman's fingers hard as they slapped over her lips. With a small grunt of discomfort he jerked slightly away allowing her to fly upwards.
Swift hesitated as she took in the sight of her mentor, who glared up at her with such venom and darkness that she almost felt her eyes begin to water.
I'm sorry Dad…
She gulped down her anguish and gritted her teeth as she gripped the wind ribbons in each hand.
But you leave me no choice!
She cracked the ribbons down hard aiming for both his arms. He dodged rolling to the side and flinging two batarangs at her. She quickly caught them with the ribbons and sent them flying back at him just as he leapt up to aim an aerial punch.
She grabbed him by the arm and tried to use his momentum to swing him away from her but he anticipated her actions quickly and grabbed her shoulder, before flinging himself and her down to the ground.
They landed with several thuds as they skidded across the ground of a balcony overlooking the Watchtower's gardens.
Swift struggled as Batman tried to pin her down on the floor, grabbing her hands and holding them down beside her shoulders. She winced as her damaged wrist was once again crunched.
"I won't release him. Not until I make him kill you, torture you, in every single most horrific, sadistic and vulgar way he knows you fear. And then when he's done I'll wake him up just long enough to see his good work and I being the merciful man I am, will end his suffering by snapping his neck just as he breaks"
Swift's eyes flashed brightly as hot anger flared up inside her. Deftly she broke one of her hands free and reached into her utility belt.
LIKE BLOODY HELL I'LL LET YOU, SAVAGE!
Fsssssssssst!
Batman's grip slackened as he spluttered and choked as Swift delivered a decent spray of her aerosol deodorant into his face.
Of course his eyes were covered so his vision was not impaired, but it was sufficient enough distraction for her to deliver a solid punch to his square jaw.
The Dark Knight reeled off her, overwhelmed by the ferocity that had suddenly arisen in his protégé, as she proceeded to deliver the hardest, sharpest and fastest punches she could, trying to aim for all the weak points she knew were in his armor.
Eventually he recovered enough to fling her away, but instead of hitting the wall and crumpling like he'd intended she'd forced herself back to hover in the air and fly away. He growled in frustration and ran after her.
Rob where are you? Swift hissed across the mental link as she flew out of the way of a flying batarang being aimed at her from behind.
I'm outside next to the garden with Rocket Robin grunted
Good. That means your close! Tagged anyone yet?
Swift saw a bright light in front of her and smelt the fresh smells of grass and greenery.
Just finishing up with Hawkewoman and Green Lantern. Why?
Because I'm bringing the party to you
She wheeled around and aimed her palms at the ground beneath her, covering it in a layer of ice.
Batman who was still running behind her was forced to slow down his pace as his boots slid smoothly over the frozen surface.
Swift couldn't help the smirk that flashed over her face,
Ha! Have fun with that Dad!
She flew down off the edge of a balcony down to a lower level where she saw Robin and Rocket standing in front of Wonder Woman who was currently trying to bash her way against the latter's force field.
Can she escape your force bubble?
Swift asked as she came level with her teammates.
Not if she keeps punching it!
Rocket frowned as she held out her arms to keep up the force field as Robin dashed to an unconscious John Stuart.
The kinetic energy only makes it stronger, but I'm stuck here! Anything I do risks freeing her!
LOOK OUT!
Robin cried as the Batman's dark shadow leapt down upon them from the story above.
He aimed a punch at both his protégé's who flipped over him, before aiming a punch at Rocket who flew up into the air.
The Dark Knight turned on Swift and Robin who both straightened up, the latter flinging down a handful of smoke pellets.
All three of them charged inside, Batman managing to tag Swift on the jaw sending her flying out of the cloud and right into Rocket and Miss Martian who were both still trying to subdue Wonder Woman.
The bluish force bubble around the Amazon disappeared and with a loud warriors cry she lunged. Knocking Miss Martian into a pillar before aiming for the other two girls. Swift pushed Rocket out of the way before flying up and out of reach. Wonder Woman followed, eyes blazing as she un-looped her lasso from around her waist and spun it round.
"GHAH!" Swift cried out as she felt the familiar pain as bones splintered within her already injured wrist as she was spun around in a circle. She shut her eyes to stop herself from getting dizzy and even though it hurt a hell of a lot, she grabbed the lasso with her broken wrist for dear life.
Then she felt the wind changed around her as her body began to be pulled down fast. She opened her eyes in time to see Wonder Woman's face coming closer. She gritted her teeth.
Here goes!
KATHWACK!
The Amazon's head flew backwards as the Girl wonder's uppercut hit the underside of her jaw. Swift felt her fingers sting on her uninjured hand and grunted as she thrust it forwards to deliver a second strike which hit Wonder Woman in the gut, bringing her head and neck back towards her.
Quickly she slapped a hand on the back of the older woman's neck, the chip in it instantly sinking into her flawless flesh.
Her grip on the lasso lessened as did its hold on Swift's wrist.
"Now that really hurt!" The girl wonder pulled away, nursing her broken limb as Wonder Woman hit the floor with a dull thud.
"Swift! Miss M! Rocket!"
She looked up as Robin and Superboy jumped down from the level above, just as the other two girls came to.
"M'gann are you ok?" the super clone ran to his girlfriend to help her up.
"I…I'm fine" She smiled meekly.
"Nice hit" Rocket grinned at Swift who gave a small smile but winced as Robin took hold of her undamaged hand.
"Come on…let's get back to the others" he smiled as he began dragging her back towards the corridor, the others following at a small distance.
Five minutes later they arrived in the main hall where Artemis, Kid Flash and Aqualad were standing around the broken body of Red Tornado just as the voice of the Justice League computer systems announced.
Happy New Year: Justice League
There was a tiny bing noise and little midi music began to play in the background they all looked up to see a large hologram above them. It read.
January 1, 00:00 EST
There were small scuffling of cloth as everyone paired off for their new years kiss; Superboy and Miss Martian, Kid Flash and Artemis, Rocket and Zatanna, who both had kissed Aqualad on both cheeks.
Swift barely had time to register what was going on when she felt a pair of hands grab her waist and a pair of lips crash against hers firmly.
Red Tornado, who was still on the floor, sighed bemusedly.
"Human customs still elude me"
Swift giggled into Robin's hold wrapping her good arm around his neck and pulling him in closer as his tongue slithered into her mouth to tangle with hers just as the sounds of many rushing footsteps reached them all.
They broke apart, turning with the rest of the team to see the entire League standing in one doorway, Batman at the front his eyes wide.
Swift and Robin both flushed red as their mentor straightened up and narrowed his eyes at all of them.
"Start talking"
Swift was down in the conference room in the Watchtower, one arm in a sling, the other supporting her head as she fought to keep herself awake on the table. It had been tough. She felt like she'd used up more energy in that one day then she had for the entire year. She barely heard what was going on with Red Arrow and the clone/mole business and only snorted up to attention when something bright flashed in front of her.
She stared blearily at the holo screens Robin had pulled up in front of her and Batman as he talked them through their next agenda. All three of them were showing identical pictures of Martian Manhunter, Hawkewoman, Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman and John Stuart.
"The entire league was under Savage's spell for just over a day. We've accounted for most of that time but these six went missing for a full sixteen hours we can't account for."
"Sixteen hours…" Batman rumbled eyes narrowing. "What did we do?"
Thump!
The dark knight turned sharply looking down on his protégé whose head had just landed on the table.
"Well…we certainly didn't sleep as soundly as this"
Aquaman chortled good naturedly along with Robin, Aqualad and Captain Marvel as Swift began snoring lightly.
Had this been under normal circumstances Batman would've probably glared them all down by now, but for once he was too exhausted to keep up his dark image. Instead he gently placed his hand on top of her head and stroked through the long chocolaty locks.
"How much energy did she use up?" he asked quietly.
"Nearly all of it I fear." Aqualad muttered frowning slightly.
"Yeah" Robin nodded gravely "Actually that is the second time she's done that today"
"Second time?" Batman's eyes widened, his fingers stilling in her hair.
"Yes. The first time was right after you and I handed her over to Vandal Savage" Red Tornado, who had been sitting silently beside Captain Marvel piped in, unperturbed by the sudden paleness of Batman's face. "During that time, she struggled with him and escaped on her own, before successfully eluding capture by Green Arrow, Flash, Hawkeman and Aquaman"
Aquaman shuddered and hung his head in shame as he felt the Bat's eyes boring into him angrily.
"From what data I've managed to salvage off the starro tech chips before I was cured," Red Tornado continued calmly "Savage was trying to capture Swift."
"Do you happen to know why he did that?" Robin asked quickly exchanging a worried look with Aqualad again.
"I am…unsure…" Tornado paused as if thinking "He obviously did not want to kill her. In fact he didn't want her to be put in harm's way at all. But unfortunately for him he underestimated Swift when she fought back, and the principle of the orders changed. Swift was still to be captured but this time he'd allow us to use force…just as long as she didn't die in the process"
There was a tiny grunt and Red Tornado stopped speaking as Swift's head lolled to the side.
"Wally…give me back my sandwich" she grumbled frowning grumpily before snoring loudly again, her mouth cracking slightly open.
But nobody laughed. Nobody dared move a muscle. They just continued watching Swift as she dreamed completely oblivious to their presences. Finally Batman sighed.
"This is bad…"
"Indeed." Aquaman's face softened slightly as he saw his colleague's worried face "The fact that our enemy was so intent on capturing one of our young ones is a great worry."
"Sorry Aquaman but I disagree, It's not the fact that she's young that makes this matter more serious" Tornado leant forwards in his seat "It's the fact that despite the fact her powers are underdeveloped our enemies still seem to know more about them than we do. And worse still…that they seem to be planning something to do with them"
"Not on my watch!" Robin stood up quickly glaring down all of them.
"Agreed" Aqualad rose up too. "Our enemies may plot and scheme but we'll be damned if we let them take one of our own"
Beneath the mask Batman's eyebrows rose high. He looked between the two teens who were both looking alert and ready for action.
He sighed, hiding his smirk of pride behind a hand as he stood up himself.
"We will adjourn this discussion for later. For now we all need to rest. You have done well. All of your team has"
The Batcave, January 1 2011, 04:59 EST
Christine sighed as she looked up at the ceiling of her four poster bed.
This year is definitely not my year!
She grimaced as she shifted her head, accidently moving her bandaged hand in the process, to look at the window to her room where a dark shadow was perched birdlike on the sill.
She smiled as she caught sight of her partner standing in the doorway in his pajamas illuminated in a ray of moonlight.
"Hey…"
"Hey yourself…are you ok?" he walked over to her bed and crawled over to her.
"I am…what happened?"
"You fell asleep in the meeting."
"At what point?"
"When we were talking about Roy"
"What happened to him?"
"He's being taken care of by Ollie and Dinah."
"And the real Roy?" Christine let herself sink into the pillow beneath her head.
Dick shook his head, his mouth in a thin line as he lay beside her and held her to him.
"Already the new year…" he muttered as he caught sight of her clock on her bedside table, over Christine's shoulder. "and already so much has changed…"
There was a pause as Christine gripped at his T-shirt with her good hand.
"Haven't you ever wondered…" She sighed into his hold as he leant down to press his forehead against hers. "…What it would be like if we both just…left?"
"Left what?"
"Everything. Gotham, the hero gig, the whole shebang. Just run away together and find a small town and be normal teenagers. Grow up, go to high school, college and be together."
"You have no idea of how many times I've actually considered doing that" Dick allowed himself a small smile.
"What stopped you?"
"I didn't think you'd agree to it. Plus it would really shatter Bruce and Alfred if we just did pack up and go"
"Yeah…the team too I guess…"
Dick breathed in deeply, enjoying the feel of her lavender scent wafting up his nose. "Y'know I think my parents eloped too,"
"Really?"
"Yeah…a few years before I was born. They never liked to talk about it in front of me but I think my mum's family didn't approve of my tati and his family"
"Those bitches" Christine muttered and Dick chortled..
"I know…" Dick pouted as he lay on top with his cheek resting against her chest. "Y'know, sometimes I wonder what would happen if my mama and tati knew about all the many stupid things I've done"
"Yeah you have done a lot of those haven't you?" Christine smirked "I mean you have done some pretty stupid things like almost drowning when you tried to hold your breath underwater longer than Wally. That chili eating contest in India. Trying to swing on poisonous vines like Tarzan in Poison Ivy's lair. Oh and let's not forget that especially stupid idea to antagonise a bull by using your primarily red costume whilst at that rodeo exhibit"
"Hey that was one time!" Dick looked up at her raising his eyebrows "And it was to save Bruce's ass if you don't remember"
"Of course I remember!" Christine pouted "I was on the bloody animals back"
"Oh yeah…How did you get up there in the first place?"
"I had back flipped onto it to escape something else"
"Pff!" Dick began snickering.
"What?"
"It's just that, I just thought. We're probably gonna turn into those kind of old people that keeps telling stories to all their kids and grandkids all day long till they're fed up of us"
"And tangents, don't forget the tangents, we'll barely be able to finish the stories because we'll be off on them" Christine giggled in agreement as Dick yawned wide, looking like a sleepy puppy.
"Ok! That's it, you're going back to sleep mister." she playfully scolded tapping him on the back of the head.
"OW! Alright, alright! Just one more thing" Dick yawned again but still forced himself to look down on her.
Christine's smile faltered as she took in his face. It was almost worried as if he were chewing over the words several times.
"Dick…what's wrong?"
He gulped "if I were to ask, hypothetically of course, but…what you would say if I said that I wanted to spend the rest of my life with you?"
Christine's eyes widened and she blushed so hard that she'd turned redder than the ripest tomato.
"I would…I would…" she spluttered feeling her heart race through her chest "I…would say …yes…I would…say yes!"
Dick's eyes widened.
"Really? You'd say yes?"
"No I was kidding, you're a perverted jackass and I don't want a bar of you! OF COURSE I SAID YES YOU DOOFUS!" She laughed promptly pouncing on top of him to kiss him full on the mouth.
"Whoa there tiger, hold your horses" Dick cackled into the kiss rolling her over so that she was on her back. He kissed her deeply, before pulling away, taking something out of his pocket.
"Christine Evelyn Hallows…" He smiled down at her holding out what Christine recognised to be her fake golden Lord of the Rings, ring. "…Will you take this…err…"
"Ring of Sauron?" She almost choked as she rolled around giggling madly.
"Yes! Yes! Will you take this Ring of Sauron" Dick rolled his eyes fondly "Christine…You're my best friend…my partner and I…I…I…"
"Dick?"
"Uh…yeah?"
"Just put the dark ring of power on my finger!"
"…ok"
Christine's face softened as Dick put the toy ring on her left finger.
"It's official"
"What is?" he quirked a brow.
"This is the best New Year's Day ever in my life" She smiled as Dick leaned down to kiss her.
She could barely believe it.
She had amazing friends, amazing family, she was the protégé to one of the world's greatest heroes, she'd just kicked bad guy butt and she'd just been promised with a toy ring on New Year's Day to a guy she loved with all her heart.
Life was perfect, and nothing could possibly go wrong.
Nothing.
...
...
The end
TADAAA! *loud victory song plays (take your pick I don't care)*
Here it is everyone! the final chapter!
I know last bit may be a bit ooc and Swiftbird may seem to be moving fast but (what the heck) ITS THE FINALE! YAYYY!
Before I sign off for one last time on this particular fic I would like to say Thank you! Thank you! Everyone, it has been such fun writing for you. It might be a while before I post up more of this YJ verse stuff because of my work but still I hope you have enjoyed this story and I also hope you'll keep tuned in for the next instalment of...
*drumroll* TADAA!
THE NEW INSTALLMENT OF MY SERIES!
Swift Chronicles: Shadow Apprentice:
Swift's (Christine's) life is picture-perfect. She has a great family, great friends and an amazing boyfriend/partner. Everything is just as it should be…But her journey is not over yet. Six months after the New Year a new threat emerges calling himself the Apprentice and he has one purpose in mind. To capture Swift and fulfil an ancient prophecy. Who is he? Why is he so interested in the Girl Wonder? What have three rivalling secret criminal organisations have to do with anything? And what is this mysterious prophecy? New bonds shall be forged, old friendships will be tested and the darkest secrets of all will be uncovered…but will Swift be ready to face them? We'll have to watch and see.
Keep R&Ring or PM-ing me if you have any suggestions of what you might want to see and what you think will happen.
See you guys next time! :)
