Hello wonderful readers thank you for being patient for this next little bit. It seems like this story will wrap up with 25 chapters so a lot will be happening at once. I believe that for the rest of the chapters there will be a switch of perspectives within the chapters so please watch for who is thinking. Thank YOU for reading! Please review!
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It was almost a shame that parts of Wayne Corp were so easy to infiltrate. The contact under the simple title "Extinguish" described the weapon as a gun that needed to be acquired with all ammo stored with it. Would be a heavy payload but could be carried by a nonmeta. He also provided the lab room it was stored which may have indicated that this was actually a member inside the Wayne design team that wanted to use whatever this gun was for his own purposes off the record and off the rules in place. It wasn't my job to question too much and it certainly was not my job to worry about what I would be releasing upon the world. Guilt and conscience were not super helpful skills in thievery which is why I needed all my heroic tendencies to shut up. This wasn't just for me this was for my mom's health. Would I be able to afford anything I wanted? Yes. Was it a huge risk to my life? Yeah. He had sent a threat to the false location I had set up as my own. It had a photo of a house that was the address of what I had set. It was my dad's house and I got a threatening message with a video of my pregnant stepmother. I did not necessarily hold a lot of love for my father I did feel bad I had put his new wife at risk with her being innocent. I just had to turn that into another factor on why I was doing the best thing. I was protecting them too by completing the job.
I would need to be able to do this clean and fast. I sent Starfire a text telling her I would be out with my uncle and likely not able to contact her until tomorrow. I knew if I tripped any alarms and was identified that would fall through and I would be screwed. It was a hell of a risk adding her to the equation, but I knew she wouldn't hurt my mom in anyway. She wouldn't give up my true location or my identity. I hope… No, she wasn't that petty it was one of the things I loved about her true loyalty. She might hit me, but she wouldn't destroy me. At least I was pretty sure he wouldn't this would be a bigger fight than watching Netflix or making fun of Birdboy.
I started to pack up my things and wrote a note to mom that I needed to get some business handled in Jump would be back in a couple days. I had called my uncle and told him that one pf my cousins or Abuela should keep her company. I was more comfortable leaving her now that she was able to cook basic meals on herself but I did not want her to wake up in a panic alone. I just didn't want her to be alone any longer in general.
I was going to strike at 4 am since the cleaning crew was finished and it was the time all the security converged on the first floor. They seriously needed to be more careful with their website and security protocols. It's almost like they were reckless on purpose. Maybe Bruce Wayne's overconfidence leaked beyond the trashy magazines that my mother unfortunately had cluttered around the apartment. I had made sure that the house was locked, and my laptop set up as a webcam so I could watch my mom in case something happened. I was being a bit paranoid since the contact was obviously a little tech savvy and was ready to make threats on my family if I failed.
High risk high reward… at least if it went to plan this would actually be the last job I would actually have the need to complete. I could stop and just live a better life. Money might not be able to directly buy happiness, but it certainly laid down the foundation.
I put my helmet on over my suit and put a jacket over my torso. In the dark it would be impossible to distinguish me from any other riders. I just needed to get on the road and handle the job before I over thought things. It would be a long time on the road so that was enough of a worry to make me back out.
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Things had been a little hectic at the tower. Cyborg and I had been combing through all the laws and documents that revolved around the Terran Card system. If it could be proven that I had broken any of these laws that would provide due cause for Batman to have an excuse to eliminate me. It was illegal to kill me in cold blood, which was a small comfort, but lots of the rules had wiggle room for treason. It also did not specify who was the victim of treason whether it was the league or the world. It was a tad concerning and we had brought Raven in to just help us read between the lines. She had not been too optimistic since like the rest of us she knew the power Batman had over Robin and most heroes. "If he found someone a threat, few would be able to stop him." Truly one of the only things that could save me is finding a reason why my death would be more hazardous and having an intergalactic diplomatic pass. I was unable to receive one since I was technically still registered as a wanted slave on an intergalactic level. I was immune here and a few other planets, but if I was found in a slaving zone...and was captured my life would never be the same. I would be quite hard to capture though, especially if I remained on earth with a reason to fight.
Everyone had tried to distract me when we were not directly working on building my case. We had requested an official meeting with the Justice league and the earliest appointment with the big three was in 3 weeks. Raven had found something that stated Batman had broken a rule of privacy by proxy when he took Robin's files without my permission. Aquaman had argued for that rule after some incidents of his own privacy being violated. It was nice to know that there was something that could be done. Though we could not fully devote ourselves to this, so we took breaks. Beast Boy and I went to the park for nice walks and the frisbee. Raven and I began a yoga class together which was quite nice. Cyborg started to take me out on drives which was nice when he would drive me at sunset. Robin and I sparred and did not speak. I held back a lot, but he did not which made each time I pinned him to the mat that much more satisfying, He got some good shots in, but he knew I would be more mad if he took it easy on me. It was nice to practice my weapons and I did have a strong enough bond with Robin I knew I would not accidently kill him. I was still mad, but I was more understanding that Robin and Batman were a tricky dynamic. He was doing his best to help when we let him proofread our statements, but we still felt like he could not be 100% trusted.
Crime had also been steady which kept teamwork alive and happy to be heroes. It stopped us from tearing into each other when we had a reason to be on the same side. Things were not perfect, and I did not have Jay's place to run to when things got extra frustrating. I guess I could go to his apartment, but it would not be the same with him not there. The video calls did help, but one could not satisfyingly kiss through a phone or steal clothes from afar. I missed him a lot, but I tried not to mope. I knew he needed to be with his mother, and I respected his choices. I found his even more attractive when he put people he cared about first. It just did not make me miss him any less. I would especially miss him tonight since he was out with his uncle and warned me he would not call.
I suggested we go out to see a movie so I would be distracted, and Robin eagerly agreed for the trip. He had been overly nice in agreeing to all of my suggestions. I was tempted to ask for a trip to Disneyland, but it would not be right to take advantage of him. A movie would benefit everyone. I even agreed to a neutral action spy movie set in England.
"We could see something else if you really wanted to Star." Robin offered as we made it to the theatre. We were in hero wear, since it was a team strengthening trip.
"I care not for what movie we see tonight, I just wanted to be with friends." I said and gave him a smile since he was truly being kind. I would likely forgive him soon, but there was no clock on when that would happen. Cyborg and Beast boy went to get snacks and raven had went to the theatre with pocky stashed underneath her cloak. She has a fondness for them, and the theatre does not sell them, so she brings her own. Robin and I took our time looking at the posters to see what would be nice to see in the future. It was nice being out of the tower together for a reason beyond fighting crime. We all made it into the theatre as the trailers began and settled in for the showing. It was a nice film in reality, with the spy using a feather to tickle the villain off a rooftop. There were many great lines and it was nice to watch it to the end.
It was quite late when we made it home since going to a later showing caused less stir. All of us were in better spirits, but tired enough that we did not need to do more than go to bed. I made to bed, but sleep did not come when I closed my eyes. I checked my phone a few times, but no texts from Jay. I decided that watching the Youtube videos of people dipping random objects in paint topped water. It was most satisfying when it worked. An alarm broke me out a round of shoes being dipped.
I quick changed back from Pjs to my uniform and took off to see a very frantic Robin in the main room. On the main screen were the words I had not wished to see.
"It's Red X, he's broken into Wayne Labs. We have to go now." Robin said and motioned for me to fly him all the way. I grabbed him in our standard hold and took off unsure if I would truly be able to stay afloat with this sinking feeling inside of me. I was praying to Xhal and all the goddesses that this was a huge mistake and he was truly with his uncle.
"Fourth floor." Robin communicated and I adjusted so that he would be not be hurt as I flew through backwards through the glass. I was not positive what exactly would happen when I saw him, but I was hurt he would lie to me. I followed Robin down the path and saw some obvious signs that Red X had been there with guards X'd to the wall. All the sudden a very powerful tickle hit my nose and I quickly faced a wall before a sneeze blasted Robin's back. Another one hit and another in quick succession while a hole was burned into the wall. Xhal a stash of Chromium must be nearby. Robin quickly tossed me a medical mask that was outside a door. It was not too surprising since it was a lab. It helped enough to keep going though my eyes were watery and I was worried that my allergies may be a hinderance. I just ran besides Robin since my flight would be dangerous if another sneeze attack hit. Over the communicator I heard Beast Boy and Raven enter the building while Cyborg set up a trap from the roof top.
Robin overtook me in speed when he heard rustling down the hall ahead. What I would do when I saw Jay was still unsure. I heard a grunt and picked up the pace. I had expected to see Robin and Red X in a tussle, but I was expecting to find a variety of Chromium weapons and charts and videos evaluating my movements and weaknesses. Robin and Jay were knocking weapons around truly fighting with fists. I felt the sickest I ever had in that moment with the evidence that someone was plotting and manufacturing my death and my love hurt by my leader. In a sudden click one of the lasers turned on and fire directly at my stomach. I was rooted at my feet and the blast almost hit me. Red X had quickly phased me out of the way with a shout of my name.
"Are you okay?" he asked. We were still in the same room and my mask had come off. I shook my head obviously and shoved him far away just before a round of sneezes exploded out of me. I quickly was destroying the room with my surroundings with my powers expelling from my nostrils. I kept dodging laser blasts easily since I was being propelled across the lab. A scalpel had cut my leg in my fit. A part of me felt weak to stop them as they continued to fight, both would glance my way when I would whine as the sneezes paused. Luckily Raven approached and bubbled my head before I hurt anyone. With my head a little clearer I was able to Starbolt the laser that had targeted me. Red X gave a long glance my way before being sure that I was okay. He quickly grabbed a gun looking object and teleported out with a two -finger salute.
"Fuck!" Robin said and threw a R blade at where Red X phased from. Then he took in the room or well what was left of it. "God, Star I had no idea. I didn't think he would be this serious." It was clear to see what they were working on here, my elimination. The close proximity was also an extreme concern. I also felt a sudden worry for whatever weapon Jay took from here. What use did he have to have something that was meant to hurt me? Who was he stealing it for?
"Cyborg axe the trap. There is something you need to see." Robin said and I was proud he put me as a priority.
"It failed anyway…coming." He said and I took a quick scan of all the materials in the room from medical equipment in Chromium to rapid fire guns and solar radiation suctioning cuffs. This was a very bad place and shivers went up my spine at the memories that flooded me of being ripped apart for experimentation. I felt Robin wrap his arms around my trembling form.
"You're not going to follow him?" I mouthed at him and he read my lips.
"I got a tracker on him in the fight. The signal is still strong so we can get him after we get this documented. He really went too far." He said and glanced around at the room around us. I looked down at my thigh and noticed that the blood was still trickling to the ground. Raven quickly healed it with magic, but my blood had gotten all over the room. Suddenly I was reminded that my blood eroded most metals and materials with time. It was why I made sure Cyborg never sparred with something that could cut me. Speaking of Cyborg, he came through the room and muttered a very creative stream of expletives. He quickly whipped out his arm to do a thorough scan of the room. He knew we needed his accounts for the case. I felt relief when he got all the room recorded which was the only relief I felt since Jay had taken something out with him. Why?