My name is David Callahan. And I am one of the Man of Steel on Earth. For five years, I've been a hero in the shadows as The Blur. Until recently I decided to come out of the shadows and reveal myself to the world.
Now I protect San Francisco with the help of my best friend Overwatch and sometimes other heroes.
To the outside world I'm an ordinary high school reporter, but secretly I'm on a covert team called Young Justice, who fight crime and other stuff.
Did I forget to mention, that I'm on another team, we call ourselves The Avengers! I don't how I can managed my life, but I know I can handle it because I am Ultraman!
Previously on Young Justice Heroes
A large space ship headed towards earth, looming over the planet. Hal Jordon and John Stewart flew out of earth's orbit to face them. Batman, driving a spacecraft, flew behind them.
A beam ejected outwards, and the two Green Lanterns put up shields. They were quickly broken and through the beams, you could see their skeletons right before they completely disappeared.
Batman flew forward, pressing buttons. "Code Red: Full offensive deploy."
A hatch opened in the bottom of the ship and Captain Atom, Martian Manhunter, Superman, and Captain Marvel flew out to meet the ship.
The beam shot outwards again. The four dodged, and the Batman's ship flew out of the way. Superman and Martian Manhunter were the first two hit, followed by Captain Atom and Captain Marvel.
Before the beam could hit Batman's ship, he ejected in an escape pod. His pod floated as a ship from the opponent flew up to meet him.
A beam from the bigger ship destroyed Batman and his escape pod.
Flash and Zatara went to help civilians on a roof, but they were all blasted. The cameraman pointed the camera back to her stunned face.
Video feed went to the attack on Taipei, where many Leaguers were fighting. The Hawks, Black Canary, and Green Arrow were fighting with all their might. Even they didn't stand a chance.
Wonder Woman used her Lasso of Truth to send one ship crashing into another.
"Wonder Woman, above you!" Red Tornado warned.
The Amazonian put her hands up to block the beam, but it was useless as she disappear.
"Red Tornado to Cave." He said into the comms, knowing that the younger heroes were watching him on the Cave's monitors, "I fear that I am all that remains of the League."
"RT, look out!" The android turned at Robin's warning, but was too late to avoid a blast of energy that wiped him from existence.
Miss Martian used her telepathy to break off the beam. Superboy and Ultraman started ripping the ray off, and didn't notice two charge starting up, right next to they're leg.
However, Knight and Wolf did though with their Super hearing. The large beasts jumped up, pushed Superboy and Ultraman out of the way, and took the lone beam that struck him.
Superboy and Ultraman somersaulted and turned around. They're furry best friend was gone. Miss Martian was staring at the spot Wolf and Knight was in just a moment ago.
"Artemis, behind you!" Miss Martian tries to warn her.
Artemis turned around and got ready to shoot, but the beam struck first, and she disappeared.
"ARTEMIS!" Miss Martian and Wonder Girl screamed.
"General Wade Eiling United States Air Force!" The man introduced himself while saluting.
"Aqualad: Justice League." Aqualad told the general.
"We'll help you salvage as many of the alien's canons as possible. Then we start taking back what is ours." Aqualad said determinedly.
"Just go! I'll be right behind you!" Ultraman told his cousin.
"You and Aqualad can't take those things on your own!" Superboy protested.
Ultraman gave a sad smile, then sucker-punched his cousin, knocking him onto the teleporter.
Just as Superboy began to disappear, he heard his cousin's last words.
"If Nichole's still alive... take care of my sister, okay?" Ultraman says.
After Superboy was gone, Ultraman was about to fight with Aqualad. But Aqualad stopped him and says something to you.
"Your their leader now. You, Wondergirl, and Superboy are our powerhouse to help save the world. And most of all they need you more than me." Aqualad says as he throw Ultraman in the teleporters, before the Kryptonians can do anything.
Ultraman B-07
Aqualad then smashed the teleporters controls so that Young Justice couldn't be followed, then glared at the alien ships.
"Come and get some." Aqualad glared as he jump up in the air with his water bearers.
"Where's Aqualad?" Wondergirl asked; when she saw the devastated look on the kryptonian's face, she felt a sinking sensation in her stomach.
"He... he didn't make it. Hey told me we were the only one can save the Earth." Ultraman said quietly.
Miss Martian then stumbled, and Kid Flash was instantly at her side.
"You okay?" he asked.
Miss Martian shook her head. "Wonder Girl..."
"Wonder Girl's gone." Superboy said tersely. "It's just me now."
"Cassie..." Ultraman says as he realize that he loves her then began to shake his head.
Miss Martian groaned and held her head.
"Don't tell me..." Robin said, fearing the worst. "Superboy?"
A tear-blinded Miss Martian nodded lean forward by her uncle. As they moved, Kid Flash tried to console her.
"It's okay." He said. "We'll find him with Artemis, I know it."
"No." Martian Manhunter said, his tone resolved. "My mind is clearer now. The disintegration beam is exactly that. There is no detention facility, no prisoners to rescue. Our mission holds no purpose."
Kid Flash grabbed the taller being by the shoulders. "No, you're wrong! The Zeta-radiation proves she's alive, she's—"
Smack!
Kid Flash reeled from the punch Robin hit his jaw with. "Stop it, KF!I've been scanning for League and Team signals since we got inside. They're not here. Artemis is gone, and so is everyone else."
Kid Flash looked away, down hearted, and Robin continued. "But our mission still holds purpose; to destroy this Mother Ship."
Martian Manhunter helped his niece up, and Robin walked away, followed by Martian Manhunter.
Miss Martian placed a hand on Kid Flash's shoulder, and then ran off. The speedster growled and took off after them. The five ran into another chamber and saw the power source. Robin looked up something on the computer.
Robin took the bombs that were hanging on his chest off, and placed them on the core.
"You two knew. You knew from the beginning why we were really here." Kid Flash said wondrously.
Robin's computer showed a timer. "Four minutes, let's go."
"Sixteen seconds and counting. Manhunter, take Miss Martian and go. Ultraman, you go with them." Robin said.
"If you think I'm going to-"
"Don't worry, we'll follow as soon as we blow those doors." Robin told him.
Martian Manhunter help turn Miss Martian and Ultraman into density shipting and they went through the floor.
Don't... Don't tell me the mission was a success. The price was too high..." Miss Martian said, closing her own eyes, ready to start sobbing.
Then, a shadow consumed them. Another Mother Ship had was above it and was ten time bigger than the last one..
Miss Martian started repeating 'no', and Ultraman was in too much shock to do anything. Ultraman turned to her friend.
"No... We- we have to get out of here!" Miss Martian stuttered as she turned around and attempted to fly away when Ultraman grabbed her by the wrist pulling her into a hug.
"I'm so sorry." Ultraman muttered into Miss Martian's ear as he plunged his fist into her abdomen causing her to gasp intensely before...
M'gann's eyes snapped open, she wasn't dead or in the middle of a destroyed corn field outside of Smallville, she was in the middle of the Cave laying on a bed of some sort.
She sat up slowly and watched as Artemis, Aqualad, Conner, Wally, Cassie, and Ultraman slowly sat up groaning and holding their heads as they did.
Captain Marvel was holding Artemis, while Red Tornado was holding on Wally, and Wonder Woman was holding on Cassie. Wolf and Knight went to their masters sides as Ultraman and superboy began to hug them.
Batman caught J'onn as he stood to his feet; it seemed he had been laying on the floor but was too weak to stand on his own.
"You're all alive!" M'gann said happily.
"What happened in there?" Batman asked Martian Manhunter.
The Martian was holding his head. "The exercise... it all went wrong."
All the kids were confused.
"Exercise?" Cassie asked.
Batman looked at him. "Try to remember. What you experienced was a training exercise. Manhunter psychically linked the six of you within an artificial reality. You all knew this going in. What you didn't know was that it was a train for failure exercise. No matter what the Team accomplished, the scenario was designed to grow worse. Still, you were aware nothing was real, including the deaths of the entire Justice League and Artemis."
Ultraman then began to hug Knight closer. "Which is exactly why none of us mourned or even cared about their deaths, because we all knew it wasn't real."
M'gann was on the verge of tears as everyone looked at her.
"I-I'm so sorry." She said.
"This isn't her fault! Why didn't you stop the exercise?" Superboy questioned.
Martian Manhunter's face was hard. "We tried, but M'gann had a death grip on the scenario. Even Artemis, who should've awakened upon her death, was so convinced she had passed, slipped into a coma.
Martian Manhunter continue. "I realized I would have to rip control from Miss Martian's subconscious from within. But upon entering the reality, I was overwhelmed by your collective emotion. There was too much noise to think clearly, to remember why I was there. The deaths of Aqualad, Wonder Girl, and Superboy helped, but only when the Mother Ship exploded and Robin and Kid Flash were silenced, did my mind clear enough to remember my true purpose: to shock Megan out of the exercise before your comas became permanent. But before I could I too was destroyed but, not before sending a telepathic message to the only person left who has an good influence over M'gann to successfully shock her from the situation. Ultraman."
"So then Ultraman shocked M'gann and we're all safe?" Conner questioned.
"Simply put, yes. But to shock her psyche enough to force the simulations end, Ultraman had to do the unthinkable and strike M'gann with enough force to end her life. Committing such an act in a world that seemed indistinguishable from reality can be traumatizing even for the average person, but for someone like Ultraman who has never killed anyone before, it can be emotionally shattering."
Ultraman said nothing; he didn't turn around or even glance behind him. He simply continued to walk down to the Zeta Tubes with Knight by his side.
All the kids were in shock still.
"As bad as all that?" Batman asked.
"Perhaps worse." Martian Manhunter said.
"Yet this is not what troubles you." Red Tornado said.
Batman helped Martian Manhunter up. "Make no mistake, my niece's untrained and cannot be held responsible for this; for our debacle."
Batman gave Martian Manhunter a look. "No one blames her, but clearly we underestimated her abilities."
Martian Manhunter looked away. "You understated. In terms of raw power, she has the strongest telepathic mind I have ever encountered. Stronger, by far, than mine."
Mount Justice:
October 23, 16:01 EDT
It had been exactly one week since the failed training simulation. The team was scarred to say the least, most of them had experienced what they thought was death but how does one process that?
How does one deal with their own utter demise? Can they simply shrug it off and continue with their life? No for they had lost their life and while it was simply a rouse, it still more than exhausted the minds of young teenagers bubbling with curiosity and emotions.
Now however they were tired, not from lack of sleep but from the emotional turmoil they experienced just before their individual end.
All things considered, vaporization was an easy way to go but, the post-traumatic stress that follows is... brutal.
M'gann stood in the kitchen of Mount Justice. She absent mindedly stirred a bowl of cake batter and starred off into the distance, a grim look on her face.
Conner sat on the couch watching the static buzz across the television, normally this would bother Wally who sat next to him but, it didn't this time.
(Authors Note: Everyone is in civilian clothes, while Connor is wearing a red t-shirt with a black jacket, with his regular boot. Ultraman wears a blue shirt with a red jacket, with tennis shoe and has shades on. Cassie wears a yellow shirt with a white jacket that goes up to her belly. She aslso wears a white skirt with regular shoes.)
It only made Ultraman wonder if the choices he made during the simulation were the right ones. The static specifically didn't remind him of the simulation, no, it was reality itself that stopped the speedster's thoughts in their tracks.
His over-reaction to Artemis' death, his sacrifice, was it all for not? Artemis sat propping her head up with her hands, she didn't feel too bad about it all, she hadn't experienced anything that she thought was real as M'gann only shifted the simulation after Artemis' apparent death.
Meanwhile Kaldur was looking down at the ground, deep in thought, while Cassie was sitting next to Ultraman who was petting Knight were looking at nothing at thought for what has happen to them.
It has been a week since anyone have seen or spoken to Ultraman in the week following the simulation, Connor have check on him. But Ultraman just wanted to be alone.
He and the rest of the Young Justice took some time off from school or any particular activities they usually do.
Ultraman didn't want to to come and talk with Black Canary, but Alex has threaten him if he didn't. Sometimes Alex scares the kryptonian a little.
Captain Marvel, Wonder Woman, Martian Manhunter, and Red Tornado watched the solemn teens from the training room and place where they had the Zeta-Tubes.
Recognized Batman 02
The Caped Crusader of Gotham walked out, and looked at the screens.
"How are they?" Batman asked, looking at the screen, at each face.
"Not since you last asked, which was an hour ago," Wonder Woman said; it broke Batman's heart a little to see how sad she was and, under the cover of his cape, slid his gloved hand into hers.
"I'd hoped the Team would have rallied by now," he admitted.
"I am still shaken by what you and I wrought. One can only imagine how these youths fair." Martian Manhunter said, gesturing to the screen widely.
"I know the virtual reality training simulation went... badly. But I had hoped the Team would have rallied by now, not including Danny." Batman said.
"Trauma tends to linger, as I know you know, my friend." Martian Manhunter said. It was strange seeing his leader showing emotion.
"Black Canary?" The Dark Knight asked.
"She has her work cut out for her." Martian Manhunter says.
Superboy sat in a green armchair, across from his trainer. They were in a room with a waterfall trickling down behind him. In a way, it was soothing. No one else was there and they sat in silence.
"Conner." Black Canary began. "I can't begin to imagine what you went through. Seeing your teammates, your friends, your family, all gone, and convinced that it was real... I'm sure it must have been horrible for you."
Conner didn't reply, but as Canary spoke, he'd slowly been tensing up, his eyes on the floor.
"I understand," Canary said gently. "You're Superboy, you're not supposed to have feelings of sadness or vulnerability—"
Conner stood up. "You don't know what I feel!"
As the clone stormed out, Canary rose.
"Conner!"
"Just leave me alone!" Connor shouted.
When he was gone, Canary sat back down on her chair and sighed. If this was any indication, helping the Team was going to be a lot harder than she thought.
Metropolis:
October 23, 17:28 EDT
In Metropolis's park, people were enjoying their day. Families spent time together, couples made out and showed other signs of affection, and friends hung out and did stupid things like friends do.
Then their normality was vanquished when a portal opened up and a ship holding five strange people came out.
Their leader had dark skin with amber eyes. He had a black suit on with green designs that lit up, a helmet matching. He also had a green cuff on one hand.
There was also a small, lanky bow dressed as a cowboy with a black shirt, white jean looking pants with two gun holsters with actual, futuristic guns in them, a black belt with blue, lit up designs, a black cowboy hat with a blue strip, and a brown cape of some sort. His hair was a dirty blonde and had violet eyes.
The only girl had black hair and violet eyes. A silver band with a pink gem in the center was on her head in her hair.
She wore neon pink, futuristic earrings, a long pink shirt with a black belt, black pants, pink boots, and a shawl of some sort that was draped around her shoulders, showing off some skin, and hung around her neck tightly.
Another guy had black hair and very light blue eyes. He had a loose black jacket with pink lines, black pants, a red sash belt, another belt with yellow squares, gloves, and a red helmet with yellow line.
The last teen was a big dude. He had long ginger hair and pure black eyes and tanned big dude had an animal skin vest that showed off his chest with strange violet-blue markings.
He also had a black wristband, a black headband with a large black gem, green baggy pants, and black and white sandals.
The futuristic ship flew high in the sky.
"Hero Danjar!" The big guy said from the front, enjoying the view.
"Zon! Nos kemnos! Danjar tharan, thanka, tabore..." The cowboy started, but the strange device the leader held translated their language to English.
"When can we see some cowboys?" The cowboy fan said excitedly.
The leader looked at him seriously. "Your obsession with the barbarians must wait, Serifan. Mother Box, please camouflage all extraterrestrial signals. Then scan the planet and advise."
The device, or Mother Box, made a strange sound. "What we seek is not on this world, let us..."
The Mother Box made another sound, cutting him off. He smiled at the device in his hand.
"The New Genesphere is on earth!" The girl exclaimed.
"Then we shall take her back! The Forever People will not be denied, and woe to anyone who stands in our way." The big dude with red hair said fiercely.
Intro Now!
Woooaaahh!
Five teen walking forward from a facility that's exploding. Then the screen fades away.
We walk alone.
In the unknown.
A crest can be shown. Zooming out the camera can see Ultraman using his Heat Vision blasting something.
We live to win another victory.
In the sky the camera can see Wondergirl fly in the air with her lasso of truth.
We are the young.
Superboy's crest can be shown. Looking up the camera see Superboy's face right with his face expression as always.
Dying sons.
And R can be seen as Robin jump down to a rooftop. And with him facing left he has his eyes narrow.
We live to change the face of history.
Kid Flash was facing left with his eyes narrow while he put on his goggles.
So be afraid.
Aqualad grab his water bearers and light up. The he looks up right with his eyes narrow.
It's the price we pay.
The camera can see Miss Martians eyes red a little bit. The flies up right with her hands out.
The only easy day was yesterday.
Artemis is facing right with eyes aiming something with her bow and arrow. Then see that your in front of her, as the three arrows came at the camera.
So hear our voice,
We have a choice,
It's time to face it.
We can see Batman, Black Canary, and Red Tornado giving the team a mission.
We are one.
We are one.
We are one.
A map is shown around the world as a scanner is scanning everything.
We will stand together.
An explosion came as Superboy's jump out of it.
Number one.
Number one.
Miss Martian made something blow up in front of her while flying.
The chosen ones.
Kid Flash is running and dodging shots that was coming at him as he runs into a building.
We are one.
We are one.
Robin and Superboy's are behind a crate. While someone is shooting at them. Robin soon throws something at them.
We will fight forever.
An explosion came as Young Justice stands in front of it with a pose.
We are one and we won't tire.
Young Justice Heroes
Now in his mission-outfit, Superboy stormed to the vehicle-bay of the Cave; he figured he'd grab a motorcycle and drive around the city for a while, maybe clear his head by beating up any unfortunate criminals in his way.
"Red Tornado, hanger door!" He said. The hanger door started opening, and Superboy started to put on his helmet, but Sphere rolled in front of him, blocking the exit.
Wolf walked up next to the Kryptonian, ready to follow. Sphere beeped at him.
"Sphere, out of the way!" Superboy said.
Sphere beeped and started making motor noises, then it transformed into a futuristic bike.
Superboy and Wolf both sat there, staring at Sphere, with shocked expressions. Next thing anyone knew, Superboy had gotten on, and Wolf sat in front of him.
The teen drove the bike forward, and then Sphere floated into the air, much to Superboy's pleasure.
Batman and Ultraman, now in his uniform, ran down the hanger doors and watched as Superboy left. Red Tornado walked up behind him. The Dark Knight pressed his com.
"Superboy, return to Cave." Batman says on his comm.
He heard his voice echo. He looked down beside him. Superboy's com laid on the ground, abandoned.
The Caped Crusader picked it up and sighed. Batman turns to Ultraman.
"Make sure he doesn't do anything stupid." Batman told him
Ultraman then nodded and starts running after him.
We now see Ultraman running water as Superboy was flying about him 200 feet in the air. Ultraman tries to call him but for some reason he didn't hear his cousin. So he decided to jump on to Sphere.
"What the-" Superboy says as he see Ultraman jump onto Sphere.
"Got any room for one more?" Ultraman ask.
"Um.. yeah." Superboy says as Ultraman sits next to him.
After Superboy and Ultraman left, Black Canary had moved on to Artemis, and the signs weren't good. The girl's arms were crossed defensively, her features were taut, and her tone was confrontational.
"Look, me 'dying' during the exercise might have started things going south," she said, "but I was coma-girl. I missed out on all the 'fun' of it being real, so yeah, no trauma, no need for the shrink-wrap."
"You're too tough to need help," Black Canary said in a neutral tone.
"Whatever," Artemis said, looking away and putting her feet on the small table between them, "Maybe."
"Or maybe you're too tough to admit you need help," Canary countered, leaning forward. "Artemis, it's not a sign of weakness to open up to your friends."
"I know that," Artemis said through gritted teeth. She did know it; she could talk to a few of her teammates, like Ken or Conner or even Barry, about most of her problems—most, not all; there was one secret she would die before revealing—she just didn't want to.
"But you still keep secrets." Canary said, as if reading Artemis' mind, and the younger girl knew exactly what she meant.
"You won't tell the others!" Artemis almost shouted, "You can't!"
"I won't." Canary assured her. "But you should. You could start by admitting that you're not Green Arrow's niece."
Artemis scoffed. "Please, could you imagine what Wally would do with that?"
Canary allowed a small smile to cross her face. "Interesting... so the person you're most worried about is Wally?"
Artemis looked up, her eyes wide, before biting her bottom lip and looking away.
Ultraman and Superboy began smile gleefully as the wind went through their hairs.
Ultraman turns to his cousin. "Do you think Sphere can do this all the time now?"
"I don't know!" Superboy called over his shoulder, then grinned as two control-sticks emerged in front of his seat, the second-closest to the front wheel. "But let's see what our boy can do!"
Wolf, sitting in the small seat in front of Superboy, barked in agreement. Superboy's grin widened as he opened up the throttle, the g-forces affecting even him and Ultraman.
"Oh yeah!" Superboy cheered, but just as he began driving forward again, something pulled in front of him, making him hit the brakes.
"What the hell!" Ultraman says, as he was surprised it came out of nowhere.
It was a flying car and it is much wider and flatter, along with five open seats. In each seat was a Human-looking person, but each them looked just weird.
"Return the New Genesphere!" a dark-skinned boy wearing black-and-gray armor with bright-green highlights said in a deep voice. "Along with the rest of the technology you've stolen from New Genesis, Humans!"
"Who are you people!?" Superboy demanded, "What do you—"
"Let's keep this simple: That," A giant of a boy with a shaggy mane of red hair and a furry vest over his bare, purple-tattooed chest, pointed at the transformed Sphere. "belongs to us! Give. It. Back."
Sphere beeped and revved, while Wolf growled. Jen and Superboy tensed, ready to fight if necessary; four of the other people in the car took fighting stances.
The pale, freckled boy with the cowboy hat and poncho pulled out two strange pistols—but the dark-skinned boy looked at a beeping, rectangular device in his hand and rose in his seat.
"Forever People, stand down!" he shouted. "These ones did not steal the New Genesphere; the taller one saved it from the real thieves!"
Immediately, the so-called Forever People relaxed; the giant one even gave them a friendly smile.
"Apologies." He said. "The Forever People embrace you as a friend, ally and worthy warrior."
Ultraman and Superboy looked at each other, thoroughly confused.
Canary stared at Kaldur, who was more willing to admit his feelings than the last two.
"I was the general, but behaved like a soldier and sacrificed myself. I am not fit for command, and must resign as team leader." He admitted sadly.
Canary looked at him calmly, and in understanding. "Who do you recommend to take your place?"
Aqualad had to think about this one. "Artemis is too raw and untrusting. Kid Flash too rash and impulsive. Miss Martian remains too eager to please. Superboy carries too much anger. And Robin is too young and eager to lead."
Canary saw he left out one person. "Making Ultramanthe logical choice."
Kaldur did not like that decision. "But he doesn't want to. He's too serious and and younger than I am."
Canary leaned forward. "Kaldur, you're all young and that's how Ultraman is. He likes to be serious when the time to be."
Kaldur looked down in despair. "I cannot shift this burden to him, not yet."
Canary leaned back again.
"It appears I must withdrawal my resignation." Kaldur stated.
"So, what's your guys story?" Ultraman asked as Sphere carried him, Superboy and Wolf alongside the Forever People.
"We're young gods," the red-haired boy said, "New Gods."
"Right." Superboy said skeptically.
"They call me Serifan."The cowboy-looking one said.
"I am Dreamer," a beautiful, black-haired girl who wore a pink outfit with a black belt and shawl; she gestured first to a young man who wore a black outfit with purple highlights and a red headpiece that exposed his face, including his glowing, blue eyes.
"He is Moonrider." The boy nodded.
The girl then pointed at the dark-skinned boy, who still kept glancing at the box in his hand. "And this is our leader, Vykin."
"Hmm... and I am named for an animal that does not exist on this world." Then he snapped his fingers and smiled. "But you may call me Wolf."
Across from the Forever People, another Wolf growled.
"This is Wolf," Superboy said, but the other boy didn't look offended.
"Ah. Bear, then."
"I'm Ultraman." Ultraman told the.
"And I'm Superboy." Superboy says.
Vykin nodded, and held up his device.
"This is Mother Box, the living computer." Mother Box made a few noises. "She has tracked technology stolen from our home world, New Genesis. And she has found our rescue drill, there."
The teens flew towards the city looming ahead. The Forever People drove until they were above the city. "It is beneath us, eighteen meters underground."
Superboy looked down, and saw the barren landscape in the midst of a city. "That's a construction site, perfect cover for drilling."
Ultraman looked around before speaking. "Especially with the Federal Reserve conveniently located across the street."
Ultraman and Superboy looked at the blank faces of the Forever People.
Superboy deadpan look was back. "That's where the government keeps money."
"It's a heist," Serifan said with a toothy grin, "C'mon, partners, let's ride there, guns a-blazing and round up them outlaws!"
Dreamer began to tell the Kryptonian. "He's watched a lot of Earth Westerns."
Superboy looked thoughtful. "Well, there's a time to go in strong, and a time to go in smart."
"Never though you would say that." Ultraman commented which Superboy smiles.
"This is your world, Superboy and Ultraman." Vykin said. "We shall follow your lead."
Superboy and Ultraman nodded.
A bunch of thugs stood outside the area where their boss was drilling, when one thug's mother decided to drop in.
"Norman!" A woman called out to him
The man in question, Norman, and his buddies turned to the old woman with guns up. Norman was utterly shocked.
"I brought you a jacket!" The old woman said.
Now he was just plain embarrassed. "Mom! What are you doing here?"
His buddies were blasted in the back with two blue beams. Norman turned around, gun ready to fire at Moonrider.
"Mom, get down! It's not-" Norman was completely caught off guard when his mother turned into Dreamer.
"...safe..." He trails off.
Norman backed away, gun up and ready.
Vykin appeared behind. Norman's gun rebelled against him, moving to Vykin's movements. He fell down unconscious.
The thugs at the bottom of the pit were standing around, completely unaware of their comrades predicament.
That is, until Wolf, Bear, Ultraman, and Superboy jumped on the four.
Bear waved to the others as Ultraman, Superboy and Wolf ran ahead. Dreamer, Vykin, Moonrider, and Serifan jumped down, and stood by Bear's side.
Superboy looked to the Forever People and made the quiet motion and ran ahead with Ultraman and Wolf. The Forever People ran behind him.
"A billion in bullion, Ugly," the woman said, "The old creep's gear performed as-advertised."
"Yeah, Whisper," a stocky, man with a face that left no doubt as to why he was called 'Ugly', grinned, "This score tops anything my old man ever delivered to Intergang."
As the heroes watched the thugs, now known to be associated with the world's biggest international crime organization, load the gold onto the giant drill, Vykin stepped out of the shadows.
"Wait!" Superboy said, but the New God didn't listen. "Fine, I guess we're going with the direct approach after all."
Vykin kept going until he was in full view of the criminals. "That drill and those carts are the property of New Genesis. You will return them, now."
"The gold goes back too!" Ultraman said, standing next to Vykin.
The woman, Whisper A'Daire, Intergang's top lieutenant, scowled and drew a pair of small rods made of the same black-and-red material.
"Interfere," she said, "and things get ugly."
"I'm Ugly," the stocky man, Bruno 'Ugly' Mannheim, the leader of Intergang, stepped forward. The backpack he wore spread out over his chest, forming a large cannon, which fired several red disks.
Vykin wasted no time, using his powers to shift the metallic particles in the soil, forming a barrier. It stopped some of the disks, but others went around
Vykin pushed Superboy out of the way, just as several of the disks surrounded him, bombarding him with red lightning.
Just before he passed out from the pain, however, Ultraman use his heat vision to blow up the disk, saving him.
Serifan drew his pistols and destroyed several more that threatened the other heroes.
With Serifan and Ultraman providing cover, it soon became clear that the Intergang members with the disk-cannons were useless.
Surprisingly, that didn't seem to worry the others; if anything, as Whisper's rods sprouted two whips made of red energy, they only looked encouraged.
Dreamer got up. "These weapons aren't from New Genesis. They are of the enemy."
"What enemy?" Ultraman asked.
"The enemy. The gods of anti-life. These weapons are of... Apokolips." She explained.
Bear charged forward at the minions of Inter-Gang. The minions touched the ground with glee. The dirt under Bear turned to quick sand and he fell in.
Vykin continued screaming. Serifan blasted the disks with his guns, finally setting his leader free.
Canary looked at Wally seriously. The teen had his legs thrown over the back of the chair, looking at her upside-down, and had a bowl of popcorn on his torso.
"So, you want me to believe after everything you went through, including your own death from fiery explosion, you're peachy." She dead-panned.
Wally kept eating his popcorn, happy as can be like an idiot. "I'm fairly certain I never used the word peachy, but I think you got the gist."
Canary just watched as he threw popcorn in his mouth. "So, you really have no interest in confronting your extreme reaction to Artemis's death?"
Wally choked on his popcorn, and sat up straight. "I'd rather talk about you, babe."
Canary watched, un-amused, as Wally threw more popcorn in his mouth. "Wally, you're in denial."
Wally put his arms behind his head. "I'm comfortable with that."
(The five stages, denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance are a part of the framework that makes up our learning to live with the one we lost. They are tools to help us frame and identify what we may be feeling.)
Superboy scowled as he, Ultraman, Wolf and the Forever People found themselves outnumbered almost three-to-one.
He and Ultraman readied himself for a jump that would land him in Intergang's midst, but Vykin stopped him.
"Fear not," he said, "she will protect us."
"Who, Dreamer?" Superboy ask comfused.
"No," Vykin pointed up, "The New Genesphere!"
Sphere, still in its cycle-mode, flew overhead; two cannons unfolded from its sides, which began pounding Intergang with bolts of blue energy.
"Cool," Superboy said, but then something Vykin said brought him up short.
"Wait, Sphere's a girl?!" Ultraman and Superboy said in sync.
"It is time," Vykin said, and from the way the other Forever People reacted, those words had an important meaning, but it was lost on those not from New Genesis.
"Time for what!?" Superboy demanded; these Forever People were starting to drive him and a little bit Ultraman crazy!
Vykin held up Motherbox, while the other Forever People held up a fist and shouted as one, "Ta-Roo!"
There as a flash of golden light; when it faded, the Forever People were gone. In their place was a giant being made of dull gold, with blue armor on its chest, shoulders, wrists, waist, lower legs and head.
(Does it look sound like Captain Planey. Five teen combine their powers into Captain Planet?)
It stomped towards Intergang, and despite the weapons used against it, even turning the ground beneath its feed to quicksand, nothing even gained its attention.
"Okay, that's... new," Superboy commented.
"Didn't see that coming." Ultraman told his cousin.
Two golden beams shot from its eyes, striking the weapons that two men held. Instead of simply destroying them, the beams erased the weapons from existence.
The giant then held out a hand, and a gold-laced shockwave sent all but Whisper to the ground.
The Intergang lieutenant tried to use her whips, but the giant's golden beams took care of those; another shockwave sent her soaring through the air.
Seeing that the fight was lost, Ugly pulled out a small device, similar to Motherbox, and pressed a button.
With a sound like thunder, a glowing portal appeared, which Ugly and his men ran through. The only one left was Whisper.
"Ugly, wait!" she yelled, trying to chase after her boss, but something landed at her feet, and then she was on the ground.
She struggled but it was useless. Another portal opened up under the drill, and it disappeared into it. Then, Infinity Man was encased in a golden light, leaving the Forever People in his wake.
The five teens walked up to a stunned Superboy and Ultraman standing by Sphere and Wolf.
"What was that?" Ultraman asked.
"Infinity Man. We merged to become part of the source and greater than the sum of our parts." Dreamer answered.
Superboy crossed his arms and turn to Ultraman. "Glad our team's not that close."
"Lower beings tend to fear intimacy." Bear said, crossing his own arms.
"None of this makes any sense." Vykin said, gaining everyone's attention. "How are these humans acquiring technology from both New Genesis and Apokolips?"
They all walked up to Whisper, giving her the look.
"I'm not talking." She told them
Ultraman look at her. "You were not asked. Tell us where you guys are getting these technology."
"And if I don't?" Whisper ask.
Ultraman grabbed her by the arm and took her a few feet away from The Forever people and Superboy. He began to speaking to her but no one can hear him except for Superboy.
"Um... What did he say?" Serifan ask.
"Trust me, you don't want to know." Superboy told him.
Soon they came back and Whisper wanted to talk.
"Alright, alright, I'll talk. It was Desaad." She told them.
The Forever People were in complete shock.
The girl put her hands to her head and her eyes glowed completely violet.
A fog-like mist came from Whisper's head and morphed into a picture of a man that had a completely deformed face, and was covered in a red robe. The man laughed and smirked.
They had completely forgotten Superboy, Ultraman, and Wolf had no idea who they were talking about.
"Look, I've been remarkably patient. You know, for me? What is going on?" Superboy said.
"Yeah, we need straight answer." Ultraman told them
Wolf and Sphere both agreed on the 'being patient' part.
Vykin and Dreamer shared a look, and Vykin nodded. Dreamer put her hand to her head again and her eyes glowed. A picture appeared in front of Superboy and Wolf.
"New gods come from two worlds at war."
One world was an inviting blue color. The other was an menacing blood red.
"Those of us from New Genesis are gods of life, freedom, and the source. Our enemies from Apokolips are gods of anti-life, slavery, and degradation."
Dreamer turned the picture to the man in the robe.
"This is Desaad, god scientist and chief torturer of Apokolips. His experiments are pure evil. His works; abominations. His master..."
"Unspeakable." The Desaad picture said and laughed. Dreamer made him disappear.
"He is seriously creepy." Whisper commented.
"Hurting? Try traumatized." Robin started out.
Canary was just happy he was willing to ask for help, unlike Superboy, Artemis, and Wally. She said nothing as Robin continued.
"I went in and me and Wally get killed. It hurts so much that we actually got killed. You can't tell Batman." He said quickly.
"Nothing leaves this room." Canary reassured.
"I always wanted, expected, to grow up and become him. And the hero bit, I'm still all in. But that thing, inside of him, the thing that drives him to sacrifice everything for the sake of his mission, that's not me. I don't want to be the Batman anymore." Robin explained.
The Forever People were in their ship, and Superboy and Ultraman was in Sphere. Mother Box made a weird sound.
"Mother Box says there's a large stash of Apokoliptic technology inside." Vykin informed.
Superboy turned to the hanger they were at. He turned on his thermal-red vision. He found nothing. "My infrared-vision isn't picking up any heat-signatures, and I can't hear anyone talking, or even any heartbeats."
Ultraman took a look next. "Yeah, and the place must be lined with lead, my X-ray vision can't see past the walls."
"That ain't normal for your buildings?" Serifan asked, and got two shaking heads as a reply.
"Then I guess there's only one thing to do," Superboy said.
A short while later, two Intergang thugs walked through the door of the warehouse, but other than piles of crates, there was no one there.
"Still no heat-signatures," on thug said to the other in Superboy's voice; the second man nodded, and Dreamer dropped the illusion she'd had around all of them.
As soon as she did so, the lights came on, revealing dozens of Intergang members, led by Ugly. All were armed with Apokoliptan weaponry, and none looked afraid to use them.
"Okay, maybe I was wrong," Superboy amended.
"This tech masks heat-signatures," Ugly gloated, "and filters out illusions. We got ya."
Intergang opened fire, and the fight became a free-for-all. Bear and Superboy got stuck in, smashing criminals into the floor or up into the ceiling, while Serifan and Moonrider worked on destroying the technology.
Ultraman was busy using his super speed and super strength to smash the criminal left and right.
Once that was done, Dreamer would use her illusions to make the disarmed criminals attack each other, while Wolf would take down those who managed to escape her wrath.
Vykin, however, was having a bit of a problem. "My magnetic powers are not affecting these weapons!We will soon be overrun. It is time."
Vykin and Dreamer ran away from the oncoming minions, and regrouped with the other Forever People.
They all got in a circle with the Mother Box in the middle.
"Tarru!"
They all merged and started to become Infinity Man.
One of the minions by Ugly opened up to reveal a robot. Desaad stepped out of his hiding spot.
"Now mortal, deliver the Father Box." Desaad said, handing a darker version of Mother Box to Ugly.
As Infinity Man became whole, Ugly threw Father Box. Infinity Man went from golden like the sun to red like blood. Wolf stood next to Ultraman and Superboy and growled.
"That can't be good..." The teen mumbled.
Desaad smirked. "Kill the boys, and they're little dog too..."
Infinity Man set his eyes on Superboy, and he plus Ultraman and Wolf backed up some as Infinity Man came forward.
Infinity Man blasted Superboy and Ultraman outside, right next to Sphere. Superboy and Ultraman used Sphere to get up.
Wolf jumped from the hole in the wall and ran up next to his friends. They watched as Infinity Man opened up the wall and walked out.
Superboy and Ultraman got in a defense position. Sphere made some noises.
"Good... uh, girl." Superboy said, and Sphere went back to her sphere-ific shape. "We'll take them down together."
Wolf growled, and Sphere rolled away.
"Yeah, can't really blame ya..." Ultraman commented.
Infinity Man stopped in front of the wolf and the teen, and brought his fist down. Superboy and Wolf jumped out of the way, just in time.
In some ways, Black Canary had been more anxious about her session with M'gann than anyone else on the Team.
When the Martian had entered the room, she didn't look Canary in the eye, nor when she sat down. She just stared at her knees, her fingers unconsciously fiddling with the hem of her skirt.
"It's all my fault," M'gann said quietly, and Canary wasn't sure if the girl was talking to her or not, "Hello, Megan! Who else could take a simple exercise and turn it into a nightmare?"
As M'gann spoke, Canary raised an eyebrow when the Martian's skin turned from its usual green to that of her Human identity, Megan Morse.
"You've turned white," Canary said, and M'gann jumped out of her seat, eyes wide in fright.
"No! I—" M'gann looked at her hands, then sighed in relief. "Oh. Caucasian. Right. Yeah, I'm fine, I'm just more... comfortable... as a Human right now. I can't be trusted with my Martian powers."
"M'gann, you are a Martian," Canary said gently, "Not using your natural abilities is like me refusing to speak which, by the way, I tried for a while, after my very first Canary Cry nearly deafened my entire first-grade class. Believe me, I get how you feel, but not being yourself is never the answer, and it certainly won't make your feelings of guilt go away. Learn from what happened, don't run from it. Your uncle would be happy to train you."
M'gann looked up in hope.
"Practice until you gain control and regain your confidence." Canary instructed.
The two sat in a comfortable quietness.
At the same time, Ultraman was being thrown into an airplane. He gasped as Superboy and Wolf got punched, being thrown into him, letting out a loud whine and groan.
Ultraman put Wolf down and jumped over them and ran to Infinity Man. Ultraman grabbed a piece of the airplane before throwing it at the large robot looking thing, who merely blasted it to dust.
Infinity Man's hand glowed before the airplane flew into the air and was thrown onto the two friends. Infinity Man threw the plane away and grabbed Ultraman , picking him up. Ultraman struggled in his grasp.
"Ah, this is a good day," Desaad gloated, "The power of Infinity-Man now belongs to me—er, my master!"
"Why doesn't he just get it over with?" Ugly asked.
"I am not one for 'getting it over with'," Desaad said with a sick smile, "Fatherbox knows my... proclivities, and has programmed Infinity-Man accordingly."
Finally, after a few more minutes of smashing Ultraman, Superboy, and Wolf into the ground, it looked like Infinity-Man was about to finish them off.
As he raised his arms for one last blow, Sphere rolled up behind him and jumped; as she did so, she unfolded, but instead of turning into her cycle-mode, she became a red insect-like machine with handlebars near the front.
She latched onto Infinity-Man's head and plugged the stubby tail she had into his neck. After a moment, the red-and-black faded, returning to the gold-and-blue of before.
Desaad watched in horror. "Attack! Attack while you still can!" Desaad screamed. Ugly ran forward to listen to his master's orders.
Sphere made two handlebars at the very top.
Superboy smirked. "Sphere, you are beautiful!"
Superboy and Ultraman jumped up and grabbed the handlebars. they turned Infinity Man to the oncoming minions.
"Open fire!" Ugly shouted, and his minions did as he was told. Infinity Man's arm blocked the rays and bullets sent at him, still under Superboy and Ultraman's controls.
"Our turn." Superboy said, and let out a golden beam.
The two Kryptonians grabbed Ugly and brought him closer with a smirk.
"I think I'm getting the hang of this." Superboy commented and threw Ugly into the air before he blasted his shirt off and his weapon off.
Ugly landed in Infinity Man's hand.
"Now that's ugly." Ultraman said sarcastically.
"Are you ok, Cassie?" Black Canary ask.
"No,it's just that I'll alway trust Ultraman. But I ended up getting killed in the process." Cassie told her.
"So do you still trust him?" Canary ask.
"I don't know if I should. I mean he keeps stuff from us like his idenity and his other team. But I don't know. I just feel like I know him from somewhere." Cassie explain.
"We'll that's for you to decided. When he wants to open up to you guys, then he will. But for now he will remain a mystery. Take a few days off spend time with those friends of yours you talk about before." Canary tells her which made Cassie smiles.
Superboy and Ultraman, still controlling Infinity Man, walked forward with Ugly still in his hand. The minions were now running away.
They blasted three of the minions, tearing their shirts and getting rid of their weapons. He stopped in front of them, and dropped Ugly.
The lead minion looked at his master.
"Desaad," He mumbled.
His master was not happy with him.
"All will suffer. All will suffer!" Desaad yelled and threw something at Infinity Man but the robotic figure blasted it. An explosion went off, and Infinity Man started separating. Superboy fell, still atop Sphere.
The Forever People groaned as they got up. Wolf ran up and picked up the Father Box and easily broke it by smashing it with his teeth. Superboy and Ultraman got up and Superboy placed a hand on Sphere, who was badly damaged.
"She's... hurt." He said sadly.
Vykin walked up to him. "The damage may be beyond repair, but Mother Box will try."
Vykin placed Mother Box on Sphere. The effect was immediate, and Sphere came back to uhhh... her normal self.
Vykin looked at it sadly. "The healing process has begun, and it will be completed on New Genesis."
Superboy andUltraman whizzed around. "Sorry, what?"
The other Forever People walked up.
"We thank you for your help Superboy, Ultraman, but we must take the New Genesphere home now." Dreamer explained.
Superboy stayed firm. "No, no way!"
"Why should we leave her with you? To us, she lives! To you guys, she's merely technology!" Serifan said.
Superboy was livid. "No! It's not like that!"
"Then what is it like?!" Bear questioned, crossing his arms.
Superboy stuck his hand out in a protecting manner to Sphere. "We've bonded, ok?!"
That shut them up. Then they smiled.
Vykin stuck out his hand and Superboy took it then did the same with Ultraman. "You many keep her."
"Thank you." Ultraman says to them.
Superboy went back to the Cave with Sphere. Now, Red Tornado was scanning it. While Wonder Woman, batman, and Martian Manhunter are beside him looking at the vehicle as well.
"What do you expect to find, Batman? According to Connor and Ultraman, Sphere has proven quite useful. Wally has already renamed her 'The Super Cycle'. Martian Manhunter asked.
"By any name, the sphere merits further investigation. As does everything in Ultraman and Superboy's report. Speaking of, where are is they now?" Batman asked.
"They're doing they're therapy with Black Canary." Wonder Woman told the Dark Knight.
Connor sat in front of Canary, head down in shame.
"Here's the ugly truth, I wasn't upset with Superman, Tornado, you, the whole League dead. Even though I didn't save Wolf, watched Artemis and Kaldur die, and abandoned M'gann, I felt... at peace."
Now this startled Canary.
"See, from the first moment I opened my eyes in that Cadmus pod, there's been one thing I wanted and feared: to know what it is to be Superman. And I knew, so I was happy. Everyone I care about, dead or traumatized, and I'm happy. How do I get past the guilt of that? How do I live with myself?" Superboy asked.
Canary leaned forward with a look of sadness and sympathy, and she placed a hand on his knee. "I don't have any easy answers, Connor. But one thing's clear, admitting it is the first step."
"Here's the truth. After I took command of the Team, I figured a basic plan to get into the ship and destroy it. The problem was that I couldn't come up with anything that didn't have at least one person being sacrificed. We didn't have enough people to launch a successful, multi-stage diversion. I picked Conner and Cassie. I didn't even hesitate, even when I knew they were going to die." Ultraman says in sadness.
"You put the mission, the world, above your own personal desires," Canary said, "That's remarkably mature for someone your age."
"But I killed my friends!" Ultraman shouted, "I pointed at them and said 'you and you: you're going to die', and I did it without hesitating! What kind of monster does that!?"
Ultraman look at his hands. "The worst thing, the thing that makes me hate myself, is that I killed M'gann. I took her life even though it wasn't real, but it was real to me. I have never killed anyone before."
Canary closed her eyes; damn the League, herself included, for putting these kids into these situations.
"Let me ask you something," Canary said, "When you pointed at those three and told them they were going to die, did they refuse? Did they even hesitate?"
Ultraman looked up. "No..."
"Remember, every time we go out and do what we do, there's a chance that we might not come back," Canary sighed. "And even if we do, we might not come back in one piece. We all made a vow to protect the world with our very lives. If we weren't ready to make good on that vow, what kind of heroes are we?"
"So..." Ultraman face was almost pleading, "Did I make the right call?"
Canary shrugged. "That's up to you. If it really bothers you, why don't you ask Conner and Cassie about it? If you want to, you can apologize, but I have a feeling that they'll tell you it's not necessary."
Ultraman nodded shakily. "It also made me realize something."
Black Canary then ask. "What's that?"
Ultraman sighed. "... You won't tell anyone, not even Cassie?"
"Everything that happens here is confidential." Canary told him but was confused why she will tell Cassie.
Ultraman waited a moment before speaking and taking off his shades. "My name is David Callahan and my best friends are Alex Winter and Cassie Sandsmark. But most importantly I'm in love with Cassie. After watching her die it made me realize that I likeher . Like really like here. But I'm scared"
"So your scared she might reject you and angry for keeping secrets from her?" Canary ask.
"Yeah.. that sums it up." David told her then put his shades back on.
"I don't have all the answers but maybe you should hang out with Cassie more as Ultraman. To see if she will trust you as well." Canary told him.