Author Note
I've decided to finally end this story. I had fun with it, but its time to move on. I might do a sequel set in season 2 if someone sponsors it.
Young Justice 1
New Years
Mount Justice. Happy Harbour.
"Somehow the bad guys are still getting inside Intel about us." Robin said.
I had come here to find out if anyone (well anyone over 18) wanted to come to New Year's Eve party I was suppose to attend at the Playboy mansion, only as soon as I'd arrive it turned out that I just in time for an important meeting. Not that I'd been invited to any meetings recently so again I found myself behind on what was going on.
"Yeah, but at least we know none of us are the mole." Kid Flash said
We all walked into the main to see Batman and Red Tornado waiting for us.
"That is correct." Batman agreed as he brought up a picture of my friend Roy Harper on the holographic computer. "The mole was Red Arrow."
Everyone started at the picture in shock.
"Roy?" Robin asked.
"No way!" Kid Flash said.
"Batman that cannot be. He was Green Arrow's protégé. We have all known him for years." Aqualad said.
There were more reactions along those lines.
"Ok, I haven't known him for that long" was what I had to say "but I agree with everyone else. Red Arrow can't be a traitor, he's fought besides me, he wouldn't betray us like this".
Sure he could be jerk, and he way too much luck with the ladies for my taste, however he had gone on missions alongside me. He was a brother in arms.
"Unfortunately, the Roy Harper we have known for the last three years is another Project Cadmus clone." Red Tornado told us.
The robot then gestured to a picture of the Cadmus building he'd brought up on the display.
"We've learned the real Speedy was abducted and replaced immediately after becoming Green Arrow's sidekick." Batman informed while bringing up a picture of a young Speedy. "The clone was programmed with the drive to join the Justice League, which is why he was so angry when we delayed his joining, and why he refused to join the Team. It was only later when we told him that it was his inability to work as part of group that was keeping him out of the League did he join Azrael's team".
That seemed like very weak evidence to me.
"This Roy Harper had no idea he was a clone or a traitor, and his subconscious program 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" Batman went on to say "Fortunately, I had already deduced that Red Arrow was a clone. As such we were prepared".
So Vandal Savage was active and working against the League, most likely he was a member of the criminal organisation that Ra's al Ghul had admitted being allied with.
"Savage was subdued, but Red Arrow escaped. He is now a fugitive, to be considered armed and dangerous." Red Tornado added.
Superboy suddenly looked very nervous.
"If you guys hadn't rescued me and my sister from Cadmus…"
He trailed off quickly and soon the subject when back to Roy
"Then what happened to the real Roy?" the Boy Wonder enquired.
As far as I was concerned Red Arrow was the real Roy, I'd never met the other one.
"We don't know. He isn't at Cadmus" the dark knight replied "We have to face the possibility that the real Roy Harper is dead."
Zatanna, the new magic user in the group, placed a hand on Robin's shoulder in comfort, and Artemis went to do the same with Kid Flash. For a moment I really missed Colette, but only for a moment.
"The clone Roy, the Team will find him." Aqualad announced boldly.
If he didn't want to be found he wouldn't be. Although Jade might know, as she was carrying his baby. Hopefully she was okay.
"Negative, Red Arrow's a member of the Justice League now. Leave him to us." Batman said after closing down the holograms "Now I'm needed at the Watchtower. Tornado, stay with the kids."
With that, Batman left.
"That's weird" I commented "I haven't been called up the Watchtower and I'm in the League too".
Before anyone could remark on that Red Tornado suddenly reached out to Aqualad's neck, looking as if he was going to attack, but as he did, he shut down.
"Tornado!" Megan said.
This was also weird.
"What happened to him?" Superboy asked.
Robin began scanning Red Tornado,
"He's totally powered down, all functions offline." Robin said astonished.
Weirder and weirder
"Guys, I'm sensing a low mystic force at play. I don't know if it caused his shut down but now that I think about it, I was getting the same buzz off Batman." Megan said.
Now even weirder and weirder.
"Batman... He called us kids. He never does that." Robin pointed out.
That was Superboy drew our attention
"Look, there's something in Tornado's hand" he said.
Kid Flash took it.
"One of those bio-chips we confiscated off Deathstroke" He informed.
Again it seemed like I'd missed out on something important.
"Something is not right." Aqualad said, going into leader mode and thinking of a quick plan. "Robin, Kid, Zatanna, see if you can get Tornado back online. The rest will go with me to find Ro- Red Arrow."
I decided to head to the monastery. Batman would have checked there I was sure, but he didn't know the place like I did. He might have missed a clue. Besides if I was going in combat soon, and I knew that I would, I had to change into my armour and gather my weapons. Plus I was more of a lone wolf these days I worked best along.
(Line Break)
Monastery. Outside Gotham.
It wasn't that hard to track down Red Arrow, he was waiting for me in the wine cellar that led to my version of the Batcave.
"How did Batman not find you?" I asked.
He should have. The fact that he hadn't was further indication that something was wrong with the Caped Crusader.
"I just got here" Roy told me "I've been moving around I wasn't sure who I can trust, but I don't think they can control you".
Now I was confused again.
"Controlling who?" I asked while going down in the cave so I could get my armour and weapons "The mole?".
Roy often looked angry, now he seemed sad, even his mask did little to hide that.
"I was the mole" he admitted.
Red Arrow then sighed.
"I was a sleeper agent, programmed to infiltrate the League" he told me "There was a key phrase, broken arrow, it doesn't work now, but when it the words would shut me down. Put me in a hypnotic state so I'd share Intel".
Now I had an important question.
"How did Batman discover this, and prevent you from betraying the League?" I asked.
Red Arrow tensed
"He didn't" the archer said "The entire League is under the complete mental domination of Vandal Savage. His method is something Savage referred to as Starro-tech. An alien bio-organism fused with nanotechnology and magic. It somehow allows Savage to program an individual to suit his needs".
That might explain why I'd not been called to the tower, perhaps Savage feared it wouldn't work on me due to my mental defences. That or I just wasn't part of his plans.
"But there's no Starro-tech messing with my mind. Just my Cadmus programming" Red Arrow told me as I finished putting on my armour "And once I'd satisfied its last parameter, my mind began to clear. I'm sure Savage planned to put Starro-tech me, but he paused to gloat and I escaped".
Now that last part I believed. It was a typical villain mistake.
"We're going to need some info and a few things" I said to Roy before addressing thin air "Dee I need you".
Red Arrow had his bow in hand a spilt second after Death of the Endless appeared. To be fair a goth chick materialising before your eyes is going to make a man jumpy.
"Don't bother buddy" I said to Roy "You couldn't hurt her if you tried, and she's no threat to you".
Dee seemed amused by that.
"I'm not going to fight your battles for you" she told me after I'd ensured she knew what was going on "but if you need a little help I guess I can help".
She wasn't suppose to get involved in the whole good verses evil thing, and I accepted that, however if she wanted to be girlfriend for the rest of time, or however long I had, then she could at least give me some support even if she didn't get directly involved.
"Who is this woman?" Roy asked.
This would be an odd introduction to make.
"Red Arrow met Death of the Endless, she's basically the grim reaper, only nice and girl shaped" I said.
Which was more of less the truth, and again Dee was amused.
"She's Death" Roy asked "As in the scythe and the whole 'Your time has come deal?" he asked.
Dee answered this time.
"More or less" she said "I do have a scythe, but I'd ditched the whole creepy skeleton look a while back".
She may or may not have been joking. I was sure I didn't want to know.
"Right so we need something that will neutralise this Starro tech, drive away Savage and his allies, all without damaging the Watchtower" I said to both Roy and Dee "Any ideas?".
Death of the Endless smiled at me, then she took one of my many grenades, did some funky magic on it, and handed it to me.
"This should do the trick" she told me "It will banish the bad guys, but not harm them, and free your hero friends. Just shout :deus ex machina when you want it go off. Oh and you owe me for this lover boy".
Well it would be anti-climatic, but since I had no intention of letting the villains win I'd use it.
"It can't be that simply" Red Arrow stated "Savage has got...".
I didn't let him finish.
"She's Death, Roy" I said "The real deal, the gods themselves do tremble before her, if she says this will work then it will work".
Dee nodded.
"It will work, but don't think I'll be there to pick you up every time you fall" she warned "Needy men aren't very attractive".
I resisted the urge to roll my eyes.
"Thank you, dear" I said to Dee, before turning to face Roy "Come on let's go deal with the baddies".
We didn't leave right away.
"Wait if you are Death then you should know if the real Roy Harper is alive or not" said Red Arrow "You would have reaped him or whatever, right?".
I hadn't thought to ask that.
"He's alive" Death told us "And you'll find him, more than that I won't say".
Higher powers were rarely that helpful, even if you were dating them turned out, but she had given me what I needed, the rest was up to Roy and I.
(Line Break)
Watchtower. Orbit.
"Recognise. Azrael 21. Red Arrow 22" the machine voice called out.
Roy Harper and I walked into the main control room of the Watchtower and Vandal Savage was here to not so warmly welcome us. As was that stupid Witch-kid boy guy. Karien or whatever his name was.
Also I spied Doctor Fate, Huntress, Black Canary, and a few people I knew of only a little, hanging around looking rather zombie like. They'd be more than enough to clean up this madness once I was done.
"We know exactly who's infected and who's not! And none of you are!" the magic user shouted "Fate seize them!".
Golden bands soon prevented me from moving. So now Red Arrow and I were being held captive rather being killed right away. The kid was even stroking a cat, how cliche could you get.
"That is easily rectified." Savage said with a smirk as he reached for a suitcase, that I didn't doubt was filled with those control chip "Fifty thousand years of life, and nothing's ever troubled me like the founding of the Justice League. A group of short sighted men and men dedicated to maintaining society's calcified status quo".
I wondered if I should let him finish the speech or not. It would be rude not to.
"The League would protect mankind from disaster, crime, tragedy of any kind." said Savage continuing his speech "Have you never heard of the survival of the fittest? In essence, you heroes have sought to protect humanity from its own glorious evolution. As such, you forced my more enlightened colleagues and myself to organise a response. We created a network of operatives, placed key individuals in key positions, and made sure we were on the cutting edge of all new technologies".
Villains always love the sound of their own voices.
"Genetic engineering, bio-chemical engineering, robotics, nano-robotics, even techno-sorcery, not to mention every conceivable method of mind control. Cold hard science and a little misdirection and now you champions of stagnation are 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 center of the cosmos." Vandal ended.
I'd had enough.
"Bored now" I said "Deus Ex Machina!".
(Line Break)
Monastery. Outside Gotham.
"That was all rather anti-climatic" Roy said after we had zeta tubed back to my base "We.. well you saved the League and sent the bad guys away with no effort at all".
This was what had just happened.
"The Team and the League can clean up the mess" was what I replied "Me, I have a party to get to".
I was already changing. Neither Roy or I cared much about stripping off in front of each other. I'd seen his balls get hooked up to a car battery, after that there was much we could do to embarrasses each other.
"Do you want to come with" I offered "I should have a spare suit around here somewhere. They'll be drinks, bunny girls, and celebrities. I'm sure Jade won't mind you partying a little after what happened. We can start looking for Speedy tomorrow.".
Although he should call his girlfriend and let her know he was okay. As for Speedy I was sure that between us we would find him.
"About that" Roy said as he began to change "How did you end up with an invite to that place?".
I hadn't had chance to tell him about that.
"Its mine more or less" I said "Don't tell anyone this, Harv is dying and he wants to me take over the house when he does. The company is someone elses, but I get the house. I'll be hosting the parties and looking after the place".
Roy was understandably intrigued.
"I think Jade will be okay with me visiting" he said.
She'd shared him with Blackfire so it was unlikely she'd care if Roy looked at a few attractive women. He wouldn't have sex with any of them, he wasn't the love em and leave em type. I on the other hand would.
"Well she can visit to" I said "I plan to make some changes once I'm in charge of the house".
I then checked the time and realised how late it was.
"Come on let's take a zeta tube into Gotham, and then take a Taxi to the mansion".
We had a fun night a head of us and I for one did not want to miss more of the party than I had to. It was the end of this year, tonight, and the start of a new one, time to celebrate. Then tomorrow we could worry about the future and about what happened to both our friends and enemies.