Blue Beetle was flying slowly in the air on the lookout while Superboy, Robin, and Aqualad were on foot. According to his scanners there were no lifeforms near their location thankfully. From the air he heard Superboy ask," are you sure that we're going the right way Robin?"
Robin glared at him and replied," for the fourth time, YES! You're really starting to annoy me SB, I know what I'm doing."
Aqualad put a hand on the Kryptonians shoulder. "We're going to find her my friend," he said. "But driving Robin crazy isn't going to help so please be patient."
C'mon Superboy," said Blue Beetle. "Up here in the air with me so Robin can focus."
"But," started Superboy.
"Go Connor," said Aqualad. Superboy nodded in defeat and flew up in the air with Blue Beetle.
"Superboy can you see into the castle," asked Blue Beetle as they approached it.
Superboy shook his head no. "I've tried but somehow it must be lined with lead," he explained.
"Don't worry bro," said Blue Beetle with a smile. "We didn't come all this way to fail. We're going to find M'Gann."
"Why are you promising that fool that we're going to find her Jaime Reyes," asked the Scarab. "She could be dead and with the way he acts, he'll want to take revenge and completely throw off mission protocol. It would be better to eliminate him."
Blue Beetle ignored the Scarab and flew to the ground as he saw Robin signaling him. They had reached the out skirts of the castle.
"We can go in from here," Robin informed them. "Assuming Batman's info is correct and they haven't re-arranged the castle, the prisoner pens should be in here."
"Which one would hold Miss Martian though," asked Aqualad.
"That I can't answer."
"If we fire an electrical pulse we can get in," said the Scarab.
Blue Beetle repeated the suggestion and Superboy shook his head no. "Beta Team's job is the distraction," Superboy reminded him. "Our job is to safely secure M'Gann and return her to the portal."
"We need to check all of the floors of the castle regardless," said Aqualad. They sighed but all nodded in agreement. Blue Beetle looked at Darkseid's castle. It was surrounded by fire and off to the side there was an enormous Coliseum that led to the town.
"Superboy you're invulnerable right," asked Robin. "Why don't you just go in through the lake of fire?"
"I have limited invulnerability," Superboy informed him. "And if those flames are magical I'll be in trouble."
"Temperature degrees exceed 500 degrees," said the Scarab. "Another route is necessary."
Blue Beetle thought for a second then suggested," what if we went in as guards?"
Aqualad looked at him then said," explain."
"We take some clothes from the guards and then we infiltrate the castle."
"I like it," said Robin. "Simple, stealthy, and quiet."
Superboy and Aqualad both agreed and the foursome got on their way. Stealing clothes from the guards was easy. The armor they wore consisted of a leather body armor that cut off just below the knees, leather boots, and leather greaves. Once they knocked out several guards (took a long time to find one Robin's height) they placed them in an empty room and began changing. As Jaime pulled off his shirt Tim asked," what's that thing on your back Jaime?"
Fuck thought Jaime. He forgot to face his back against the wall when he took off his shirt, and now everyone could see the Scarab. Jaime sighed and said," it's an alien Scarab. It's the source of my powers, but it's also the reason that I talk to myself a lot of the time."
Connor was slowly taking off his shirt while looking at Kaldur and Tim prepared to yell at either of them if they said anything rude Jaime. Kaldur walked up to Jaime and examined his back.
"Do you mind," he asked.
"No go ahead," replied Jaime turning around. Kaldur gently ran his webbed hand down Jaime's spine.
"Can you take it off?"
"No it's attached to me. Take it off and I die."
"So that's how you use all those cool powers," asked Tim. "That's absolutely crazy and cool as hell at the same time."
"You don't think I'm a freak?"
"Jaime our entire little Team is composed of freaks. A guy who breathes water, a constantly pissed off Kryptonian, a girl whose father is trapped in a helmet and an annoying Speedster. You're no different from the rest of us. You just have a voice in your head big deal."
Connor came and nudged him with his elbow. "I told you that they wouldn't judge you," he said with a smile.
As Kaldur and Connor were getting dressed in one half of the room Tim came over to Jaime and said," soooo I'm sorry about what happened with Cassie. I should've asked you first before I just went... and.. well you know.. uh-"
Jaime finished Tim's sentence rather bluntly. "You mean you should've asked me before you went and screwed her?" Tim put his head down in shame. Jaime smiled before shoulder bumping him playfully. "No harm done little bird, but next time can you ask me if I like the girl?"
"Fair enough."
"Less aplogizing, more putting on the armor ladies," ordered Connor.
As soon as Jaime put on the rest of his uniform Kaldur growled," damn it. I knew that this was going to happen as soon as I saw the armor. Tim turn around and Connor tell me what you see."
As soon as Tim turned around Connor's face turned pale. "I can see your boxers Tim," he said.
"So they're Flash boxers," he admitted. "I know that everyone has a pair. Just please promise you won't tell Batman."
"Not the point Tim," said Kaldur. "The people here probably don't wear boxers."
"Oh come on," said Jaime when he realized what they were going to have to do. "Isn't there any other way that we can get around this? I really don't want to go commando."
"Afraid not," sighed Connor putting his head down. "Damn it I hate this planet. Lose the boxers guys, and don't be awkward and immature about it just do it. And no peeking at my butt Tim."
The Boy Wonder turned as pink as a rose. "Shut up," he growled turning around. Everyone sighed and took off their Batman, Superman, Flash, and limited edition Green Arrow boxers (Kaldur).
"This is so uncomfortable," complained Blue Beetle as they left the room.
"There is just too much moving around down there," said Robin with an uncomfortable face.
"No shit," agreed Superboy.
"Focus," said Aqualad angrily. They began walking around the castle and searched each of the rooms. The Scarab however was not pleased with that plan and it was gladly voicing its opinion inside Jaime's head.
"I don't know why we are wasting our time looking while wearing these ridiculous clothes," growled the Scarab. "We could find the Martian girl in two minutes if we tore this castle apart."
"This castle has held Superman before," whispered Blue. "There's no way we could tear it down."
Alpha Squad checked every room on the first three floors. As they were leaving the third to go to the fourth Superboy bumped into none other than the Lord of Apokolips himself. Darkseid was enormous and was radiating so much power that Jaime was struggling not to shake.
"Master," the Kryptonian said taking a bow. The others quickly followed suit. Darkseid punched the disguised Superboy into a wall where he remained before turning to face the others.
"Watch where you guys are going next time," he said with a smile. "Have a nice day." Darkseid flashed his eyes red and then walked away with his arms behind his back. Only when they were sure he was gone did they check on Superboy.
"I'm okay," winced Superboy as he climbed out the wall. "That hurt a fuckton, so fighting him would be very bad."
Everyone nodded and continued downstairs. The fourth floor consisted of hundreds of dungeons. They could hear the prisoners moaning out in displeasure.
"She's in here somewhere," said Superboy walking fast.
"YOU THERE!" They all looked and saw an old woman with white hair gripping the door bars hard. "RELEASE ME AT ONCE," she growled.
"Who are you," Blue Beetle let slip.
"HOW DARE YOU! I am the great Granny Goodness. You will pay for your insolence. NOW FREE ME SO WE CAN FIND THE MARTIAN!"
That got everyone's attention.
"Interrogation time," asked the Scarab.
Definitely interrogation time," said Blue Beetle outloud. They all rushed into the room and Superboy lifted Granny Goodness into the air by the throat.
"Where is she," he roared. "Answer me!"
"I don't know," grunted Granny. Superboy slammed Granny against a wall.
"Where is she?!"
"I don't know."
Superboy slammed Granny through the wall breaking the stones. When the smoke cleared Superboy was dangling Granny Goodness over the lake of fire.
"One more time," he snarled. "WHERE IS SHE?!"
"I don't know," replied Granny. "I woke up with no memory of how I got in here."
"I don't believe you."
"Please don't."
"Superboy she doesn't know," cried Aqualad. "Put her down."
"Don't do anything you'll regret bro," advised Blue.
"Super...boy," wheezed Granny. She reached up and ripped off his guards mask before he could stop her. "The Man of Steel has a brat? Impossible."
"We're not going into the details," said Robin. He walked up to Granny and forcefully put a orange pill in her mouth. Granny's eyes rolled and she passed out.
"What was that," asked Kaldur.
"A very strong sleeping pill. She should be out for a few hours."
"Good I hate listening to that bitch talk, makes my damn skin crawl."
They turned and saw a giant with yellow skin, a purple shirt, silver pants, and red eyes staring at them. On his shirt there was a white looking square.
"Who're you," growled Superboy.
"Aww your daddy hasn't told you about me," he drawled back. The white square on his chest began to light up red. "I'm so hurt."
He fired a laser from his chest and Superboy turned his back and shielded everyone else. They all were blasted out of the castle. Superboy grabbed Robin, and Blue Beetle grabbed Aqualad and they flew them each to a safe position across the lake of fire. The giant jumped from the destroyed wall and landed at their position.
Superboy bared his teeth and asked," where's M'Gann?"
"My name is Mongul, Rudeboy," he said. "And don't worry about the Martian we've been taking very good care of her."
"Firing the Plasma Cannon," said Blue Beetle.
"No Jaime Reyes," cried the Scarab with terror in its voice. "WE MUST LEAVE AT ONCE BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE!"
"What are you talking about? He's right there we can attack now!"
"Ah," said Mongul with a smile. "So you're the one who it landed on, you're the new Blue Beetle. And you joined the brats even better. Come to me Hidan and return to your master's side.
Blue Beetle felt a pain in his spine and he started yelling.
"What's going on Blue," asked Robin running to his side. "Are you okay?"
"What's happening to me," he grunted in pain.
"Mongul is my… my master Jaime Reyes," said the Scarab. Its voice was full of pain. "Mongul created me I serve his will against my own. I am trying to resist his control."
"I said come to me Hidan," Mongul repeated more angrily.
Blue Beetle felt another painful shock go through his body and then his legs began moving towards Mongul.
"Blue stop," said Superboy grabbing his wrist.
"ARGH," screamed Hidan. "Firing Red Sun Radiation."
"Superboy look out," screamed Blue Beetle. He turned and hit Superboy right in the chest with a blast full of red sun radiation. The clone was blasted back into a rock. Robin and Aqualad ran to his aid.
"Guys I can't stop it," screamed Blue Beetle as he turned to prepare to fight his friends.
Mongul cracked his neck, his knuckles. "Oh yeah," he said with a sick grin plastered upon his face. "This is going to be good."
A/N - So I'm not sure about the origin of the Scarab at all but I decided that making Mongul the creator of it would put a nice twist into the story because now Jaime can't control his body at all and he will definately be fighting against Alpha Squad in the next Alpha Chapter.
