Cave Justice, Boston MA
September 20, 2019
8:48 PM
Bart and Cassie came through the hanger door at their top speeds and collapsed on the ground. Cassie picked herself up first then extended her hand to Bart and helped the Kid Flash up.
"Any sign of them?" Nightwing asked, sitting on the wing of the bio ship. Bart shook his head and Cassie sighed.
"Sorry Dick," Wonder Girl said solemnly, "Gar and Nathan are gone."
Dick growled under his breath, he knew he shouldn't have kept dismissing Garfield's concerns about Vlativa. Now he coerced Nate into running across the globe.
"You don't think they're in Vlativa?" Artemis asked, Dick scratched his head.
"I don't know," He mumbled, "I just don't know."
Artemis exchanged a look of concern with M'gann who was starting to grow increasingly upset with Dick. Since she'd left the team he'd been running it with no agency and now The Ousider's leader, her brother was missing in action. She liked to compare Dick now to Dick when the Reach were invading.
Back then he had his head on straight, sure he lead similarly to Batman then. Keeping secrets and lying to everyone left and right. But in the quest in trying to the least like Bruce as a leader DIck lost what made him a good leader in the first place.
Then again, all those years ago Wally was still around to question Dick's every move and keep the boy wonder in line.
Wally, she thought. M'gann glanced at Artemis, she watched Dick and Artemis enter a screaming match on how to proceed. M'gann sighed, she felt small and disgusting, lying to Artemis to give her a semblance of closure with Wally's dimiese.
It wasn't okay, it wasn't moral. Yes it was done with the best of intentions, but if or when she found out the truth. M'gann, Zatanna and Roquell would have hell to pay.
"Maybe if you and Barry weren't trying to replace Wally with every teenage speedster or redhead you meet maybe this wouldn't affect you so much!" Dick shouted, the room ran cold.
"Excuse me?" Artemis's voice was dark and cruel.
"I know about what happened with you and Will, and no he didn't tell me," Dick said, realizing what he had said and to whom.
"Richard, I swear to god if my house is wire tapped," Artemis sneered behind gritted teeth.
"It was," Dick whispered.
The room became silent again. M'gann, Bart and Cassie watched Artemis. She was seething in anger. Her fists were tightly clenched by her hips and her eyes seemed to be made of bright blue flames.
"Look Artemis," Dick bite his lower lip, "I didn't mean anything by it."
"You didn't," Artemis chuckled, "You wiretap my mouse, practically shout to everyone in the cave that me and Will kissed once, and now your accusing me of seeing Nate as a what?"
"As a protege or something," Dick pleaded, taking a few steps back into the side of the bioship, "Arty I'd never accuse you of that I swear."
Artemis grinded her teeth and punched holes into her palms with her nails. And with lightning like speed she punched Dick square in the nose and then grabbed his hair pulled his head forwards and finally slammed it into the side of the bioship.
The thud from Dick's skull hitting the ship echoed around the room, and he fell to the ground on his face with a crash. He stumbled to his knees and watched Artemis walk away.
"Dick, I offered Barry that I'd foster Nate till we can find him a place to go," Artemis said in a low and cold voice, "If you think there is anything more to that then you don't know me at all."
Artemis walked out of the hanger to the zeta tube and throughout the cave the echo of the computer saying "Tigress, B07," rang through the team's ears.
Dick got back up on his feet and watched as the others left the hanger to head to the war room. He didn't follow, he didn't even think about moving away from that spot.
"I didn't mean that," Dick said, "I didn't."
In the warroom Artemis and Conner stood at a whiteboard going over all evidence that the team and Outsiders had gathered over the past several months as to what their plan was.
Superboy hummed to himself, he could feel Artemis's anger. Her seething in rage. He knew better than to say anything, sure she couldn't hurt him physically but the idea of her being upset with him was bad enough.
Artemis knew Superboy and the others were all staring at her. Yes she punched Dick out, yes she could've given him a concussion. But he crossed a line, everyone knew better than to mention her grief over Wally.
And to suggest she'd replace the lover of her entire life with a fifteen year old boy! Grayson knew what was going to come out of his mouth was to have a retribution. Her feelings of disrespect ran deeper than the scars from her childhood training.
But the worst part, the very worst part. Was Dick knew. About Will's feelings for her, and her feelings for him. Something she thought she had gotten over. The very thought of that kiss disgusted her.
Was it okay? To not feel disgusted by it. She knew it should be, but somehow. Somehow she felt that it was incredibly wrong, and incredibly shameful.
"It kinda looks like everything is converging on Vlativa," Stephanie pointed out, pointing at Vlativa on a map. Thumbtacks and string lead several drug, equipment and metateen shipments to the East European country.
"What's in Vlativa?" Conner asked, he looked at the younger Connor who shrugged.
"Hey, I left before they decided where to build the station," Connor admitted, "It's supposed to be a staging ground for something."
"Such as?" M'gann asked.
"To be completely frank," Connor said with a sigh and his hand behind his head and a sheepish smile, "I have no clue."
Artemis growled loudly and shoved papers and pens and Jaime's Quick Trip cup off the long table. Spilling Jaime's Mountain Dew all over his lap. It was the red one, Code Red and Artemis spilled it all over Jaime's new white jeans.
Artemis's face turned red like the drink and she looked away from Jaime glared at her with intense frustration. Bart couldn't help himself but to burst into a ferocious cackle.
Bart's face turned red and he hunched over un able to stop laughing. Cissie had to get behind him and cover his mouth in her hands to get him to shut up.
"So we are back to square one," Cissie said, Bart nodded in her arms. She let go.
"Not really," Tim said, "We have a lead."
"Yeah," Dick said walking into the room, "A lead Garfield gave me and I ignored."
Artemis glared at him but stayed professional.
"I guess we have a course of action then," Artemis added, she looked at the map Steph pointed out.
"We go to Vlativa," She said.
"Before we make that call," Dick said, "I want to announce something, I want someone other than myself to lead this mission."
Everyone grew quiet, and stared at him. He and Artemis had talked about this before they had their falling out. They were going to accept Superman's offer. Both of them. The two oldest of the team then directed their attention to a certain bonde Gotham native girl wearing a purple cape.
"What?" Stephanie asked, breaking the awkward silence.
"Spoiler, I am passing leadership of the Justice League's covert team over to you." Dick said. After he walked away and out of the room, closing the door behind him.
Everyone but Artemis all stared at Stephanie in awe, complete shock. In silence, Stephanie and the others stayed till minutes later Bart attempted to break the silence with a slow clap before Cissie karate chopped him in the back of the neck.
The Hub
September 20, 2019
8:44 PM
Rachel started at Brion. He stood on the terrace with wide, sleepless eyes. Gazing at the beautiful Hollywood lights as well as the beaches off in the distance.
He hadn't stepped foot outside since he was freed from The Light. Traveling between the Cave and Hub via Zeta Tube and boarding up his bedroom window. He almost forgot how calming a breeze against his warm face was. He thought it could calm the demonic voice in his head.
It did, for a moment. Remembering the things he loved and kept him at peace put the devil in his mind back in the closet. He knew when he went back inside the demon would craze him again.
This isn't me, Brion thought. He breathed in, closed his eyes and clutched the railing. He took in a more violent and deeper breath and tightened his grip on the rail. It started to heat up, and steam rose from where his skin and the metal met.
He then put one foot on the rail closest to the floor. Then the second foot there to meet it. He then rose again, to the second lowest rail. He did this with a peaceful smile and a tear.
He then swung one leg over the fence, and the other. With both feet on the rails on the opposite side of the terrace.
Rachel about jumped out of her skin when she saw this. She ran to the window and jumped through it. She barrel rolled onto a terrace covered in shattered glass with cuts and scrapes all over her arms.
"Brion!" She shouted as he let go of the rail and fell backwards. Rachel leaned over immediately and with her telekinesis she caught him mid air.
Brion's eyes shot open and with rage he glared at Raven. His body started to cover itself in rock and magma. Fire lit in his eyes. The ashes of his clothes fell to the ground and he ripped what remained his tattered Polo off his chest.
"You fucking witch!" He shouted. He reached one arm back and ripped the concrete below open, a geyser of lava erupted from the earth at his command and he threw it all at Rachel.
Rachel shut her eyes, threw Brion up in the air and formed a shield around herself. The lava ran around the shield and melted the wall to the Premier Building and the terrace. Raven looked up in the sky and saw Brion fall right in front of her.
He reeled his fist back and slammed it into her jaw. Rachel fell to the molten metal floor with a thud and a crash, falling right through it. She grabbed a metal bar and brought herself back up.
She ran into the penthouse and jumped over the couch just in time as Brion fired torrents of magma her way. The couch turned to ash behind her.
"You did this to me!" He shouted, "I hear Satan's voice because of you, maybe he'll shut up with you dead!"
"His name is Trigon, he won't ever leave your mind," Rachel cried. "I am so sorry Brion."
He laughed. Fists clenched at his sides turned to molten rock and he leapt forwards punching Rachel into the air and slamming her back into the roof. Rachel fell to the ground with a thud and a grunt. She parried away when she looked up and saw Brion swing his glowing, orange, rocky arm by her face.
"Like hell you're sorry." He mumbled.
Brion hardly noticed when the elevator door gave a small dinging noise. The doors opened and Violet, Cass Cain, and Virgil saw him trying to murder Rachel. Halo gasped.
Brion grabbed a sword off of the wall and swung it at Rachel's head. But before she was decapitated a red shield forged around Rachel's body. Brion was confused. Rachel's shield were violet. Violet?
"Halo!" He shouted. "You dare protect the woman who ruined my life!"
Violet and Virgil exchanged glances as Cassandra jumped forwards throwing a smoke pellet into Brion's face. Brion fell to the ground coughing and sputtering like a broken steam engine.
Cassandra landed next to Rachel and grabbed her arm and ran her to Rachel's room. Not before tossing an inhibitor collar to Virgil.
Static clipped the collar to his belt looped and prayed he wouldn't need to use it. He took the metal disk out of his backpack and threw it to the ground. He jumped on it, electricity coursing through his body. He flew to Brion and japped a shocking elbow into the former king's neck.
Brion grunted and grabbed Virgil's arm and threw him to the wall. Virgil's back crashed into the TV shattering it on impact and he fell to the ground with the TV on top of him.
Violet approached Brion slowly. One hand glowing indigo, the other yellow. Ready to try and cleanse or blast him at a moments notice. Their eyes locked with an intense furry. She saw the pure fire and hate in his eyes, that went away and was replaced with jealousy and betrayal when he saw Violet.
"She has tried her best to fix what she broke," Violet defended Rachel's actions. Brion shook his head in anger.
"That is not the point Violet!" He yelled at her, foam spilling from his lips, "She's shown me the kinds of demons no man should ever see."
"If she could show you them, maybe they plague her as well," Violet said.
"Then why spread the disease?" Brion snarled. He then picked the sword back up and went to swing it at Violet, before he could she extended her indigo arm and her eyes went black.
"Amioston Cat Zon Torchiano!" Halo shouted, her body glowing indigo, releasing the same waves she had used on Cyborg to cure him in an attempt to cure Brion.
Brion fell to the ground screaming and yelling. Violet ran over to him to make sure he was okay and that it worked. When she leaned over him he grabbed her neck and pulled her down to the ground and stood back up.
He put a foot on her back. Rachel and Cassandra saw this after leaving Rachel's room with a big black book. They gasped. Brion wasn't Brion anymore. Hs skin turned scarlet and he now had four yellow eyes and small horns on his forehead.
He caught a glimpse of Rachel and cackled, he released Violet and approached Orphan and Raven.
"Daughter," The words came from Brion's mouth, but with a demotic and oily overtone to it, "Thank you for the perfect host."
"No," Raven choked. She turned to Orphan and nodded.
Cassandra wasted no time throwing her twin katana's at the possessed body of Brion. The blades melted before touching him. Cass jumped down to the living room and pulled a third shoto blade from her boot.
She swung it around at him and he caught it, snapping it in his hands. Above by the bedrooms Raven flipped through the book, looking up at the battle. It looked like Staic was back in it.
Virgil threw the TV at Brion who headbutted it and shattered it remains. Virgil scowled, his arms crackled in white, black and blue lightning. He tossed torrents of that lightning at Brion as he ran forwards, at him.
Virgil punched Brion in the face and then in the crotch. To no avail. The thing that was possessing him was making him too durable to physical attacks. Virgil grabbed the collar on his hip and threw it over into the kitchen.
He moved his head from side to side, cracking his neck. Virgil knew he couldn't hurt him. Cassandra stood by his side thinking the same. They were going to have to play hot potato with him.
Cass fired her grappling gun at the ceiling and went right up. Brion's eyes tracked her, disregarding Virgil went down, and slid underneath Brion's legs while grabbing his ankle.
Brion tumbled face first into the carpet. Virgil ran for the kitchen and stood on the table. Brion got back up and started to run after him, before he could get close Cassandra threw a bolo at his torso and tied him up.
Virgil smirked and with one leg behind him, both arms in front of his chest. The lights in the building started to flicker. His body was the only light in the penthouse, glowing a bright blue and white.
"Here's the Static Shock, Geo Force," Virgil whispered. And he was flung back as all the power he drained from the Premier Building coursed through his body and flew into Brion's face.
Brion screamed, the demon in him tried to hold control of his body.
Raven about shrieked when she found it. She stood up with the book in one hand and her other hand extended to Brion.
"Trigon! Let him go!" Raven shouted, Trigon glared at Raven through Brion's eyes.
"Virgil, get Halo clear let Raven do her thing," Cassandra whispered coming up behind Static who nodded and ran off. The pair both grabbed one of Violet's arms and pulled her to safety.
Raven's body now started to glow a vibrant purple, like novas in space she shone. Her hair moved with no wind, her eyes were red.
"Sambuca, et pueri quos liberabo vos utor penitus esse cum hoc mundo. Back ad infernum mitte te!" Raven shouted, Trigon yelled in pain.
Brion fell to his knees and stared up at the ceiling. His mouth opened and Trigon's blood red essence left his body at last. The room became blindingly white.
Brion and Raven both awoke in a blank, white, open field. They gazed at each other. Their bodies covered in the colors of their souls. Purple for Raven and Army Green for Brion.
"Rachel, he's your father?" Brion asked. Raven answered with a nod.
"I need someone to know of his existence because he will use me to conquer this planet," Raven explained, "I am not a person, I'm a vessel for his conquest."
"That's why you showed him to me," Brion said, "You need help stopping him."
Raven nodded and looked away from Brion who gave her a smile and put a comforting hand on her shoulder.
"What king or prince would I be if I couldn't find the heart to forgive you Rachel," Brion said, "I only hope you forgive me."
Trigon loomed over them, glaring at the two. He made a vow, he'd be back. Their souls belonged to Trigon.