Disclaimer: I do not own YJ, they belong to DC. I own my OCs.
Palmer and Karen are traveling through Jaime's bloodstream.
"Dorsal root ganglia. Fascinating."
Karen touches it. The ganglia shivers.
"Ahh. Bumblebee, no touching a ganglian."
"Sorry. It's just being here—coolest thing ever."
They stop when they see the scarab's claw.
"We've reached the site of the incursion. Give me the 600 nanometer emitter."
Karen loads it into the gun. Palmer fires and slices through the claw.
"You see, most problems can be solved by reducing them to their smallest components. I'm through the first layer. Increase power by 40 watts."
Karen does. The laser cuts through the claw but it's hurting Jaime.
'Ow!' he shouts in pain.
"We're hurting him!"
"I know. I'm sorry but short term pain equals long term gain."
Small creatures begin coming out of the broken layer.
"It's…generating its own antibodies."
"Keep working. I'll hold them off," Karen shoots down a few but more keep coming at her. "There are too many!"
Palmer grows in size to take down the antibodies. "It's no good. We have to abort."
"Shrink back down. You're too large for micro extraction."
As they flee, Karen watches the antibodies do something.
"They're repairing the damage. We've accomplished nothing."
"Atom to Dr. Cross. Prepare for emergency extraction." The antibodies destroy the gun. "Extraction, now!"
Ivy Town
April 7, 23:24 EDT
Dr. Cross manages to extract them from Jaime's spine with a needle. He spills the content onto the floor. From there, Palmer and Karen grow back to their original sizes. Jaime groans while Mia dabs his neck and forehead with a wet cloth.
"Shhh. Jaime, you're ok."
"What happened in there?" Bart asks.
"There were…complications."
'You were warned, Jaime Reyes. This scarab could not allow this tactic to succeed.'
Jaime sits up. Mia and Bart are on either side of him and hold him up.
"What about the scarab? Can you remove it or not?" Jaime asks.
"I'm afraid its integration with your biosystem is too complete, its defenses too thorough. Jaime, I don't believe that scarab is ever coming off, not while you live."
"Atom, what if I manage to teleport pieces of the scarab?" Mia inquires.
"If you did, you might end up taking Jaime along with it."
'The question isn't whether our world's finest are the galaxy's most wanted, it's not whether or not they've been using secret, undercover, covert operatives against targets of their own choosing. No, it's not even whether these interstellar hoodlums have their own Watchtower in orbit over our planet!
'No, old G. Gordon proved all that a week ago, didn't he? So, the question is this – how long are you going to stand for this and do nothing to check these lawless heroes?' He groans, 'Well, I'll just wait here for you to make up your minds. Take your time. If you're not in a hurry, why should I be? Meanwhile, Earth's true benefactors, the Reach, have been working openly and without fanfare for the betterment of all mankind.
'Exhibit A – Lexcorp farms, where the Reach has partnered with noted philanthropist Lex Luthor to increase food production. Lexcorp and Reach are even allowing public tours,' Gordon chuckles. 'Just openness and an end to world hunger. Now, why didn't the Justice League think of that?'
"I seriously hate that man," Mia states. "Even Mom hates him and she likes everyone."
Nightwing pauses the video, "Obviously, any partnership between the Reach and Lex Luthor is bad news, so Alpha squad is going undercover to recon Lexcorp farms."
Blüdhaven
April 8, 09:02 EDT
"Robin, you'll be running Alpha."
"Me? Run Alpha?" Tim's surprised. "Uh, right. Who's on the squad?"
"Blue Beetle—"
"Whoa, whoa, whoa. I should not be on the field, ese. What if the scarab goes all Reach apocalypse on us?"
"Your scarab has had multiple opportunities to betray us. It hasn't. And right now, its connection to the Reach may be our best shot at identifying what they're up to."
'There, Jaime Reyes. Listen to the Nightwing. His logic is flawless.'
Bart zooms in between them, "Well, if Blue's going, I'm going."
"And if Impulse is going, I'm not taking my eyes off him," Mia adds.
Nightwing smiles. "I assumed as much. And last but not least, Arsenal."
Arsenal walks in. Mia frowns that he's part of the mission. "Why is the psycho here?"
"We could always make him…disappear."
"Why does everything you say have to do with killing and/or maiming someone?"
"Have you met me?"
"Unfortunately, yes."
"Then there's your answer."
She lets out a tiny hiss as she rubs her temple. Bart worriedly glances at his aunt. "I hope she's ok."
"But you'll have to travel lighter for your first mission—nothing that won't fit under civilian clothes. Any questions?"
"Just one. Why are we meeting in this dump?" Arsenal demands.
"With the Cave and the Hall of Justice destroyed, we don't have many other options."
"Except the Watchtower. It's national news now. You can't pretend it doesn't exist."
"Only Justice Leaguers and senior members of the Team are authorized for the Watchtower. You don't qualify."
"Now that you know, take your attitude and put it somewhere else," Mia stares him down.
"Good to know where we stand."
Smallville
April 8, 16:38 CDT
"Please remain seated at all times while the tram is in motion," the tour guide cheerily says.
The tram stops inside one of the buildings. Once the tram's parked, the tour group gets off. Alpha squad remain close to each other. All of them are wearing civilian clothes.
In order for Mia not to be recognized, since she's a famous painter, she's wearing tattered jeans, black Converse, an oversized red hoodie with the initials SHS (Smallville High School) in yellow and nonprescription glasses. Thanks to her height and hoodie, most people think she's a high school student doing a group project with the boys. The entire group begins following the guide as she informs them of the building they're in.
"We've just entered one of our farm's hydroponics domes, where Lexcorp and the Reach are growing the food of the future," the tour guide informs.
An older gentleman, that Mia recognizes as Jonathan Kent, speaks. "This could put the rest of Smallville's farmers out of business."
"You tell her Mr. Kent," Mia remains silent.
"No, no. Not at all. The Reach plans to share their techniques with the entire agricultural community."
The tour group comes upon two tables with food grown by the Reach.
"Please, everyone, enjoy your choice of these new vitamin-rich, Reach-enhanced produce."
"Genetically enhanced?" Tim wonders.
"There's been no tinkering with genes, rest assured. The Reach have ways of drawing out an organism's full potential."
"And one of those ways is torture by electrocution," Mia mutters.
Only Bart hears her. He takes her hand into his and squeezes in comfort. The rest of the tour group begin sampling the produce.
"Oh, my lord, this is delicious."
"The flavor!"
"Now that's a rutabaga!"
Tim takes a tomato and places it inside a ziplock bag. Arsenal, Jaime and Mia does the same with the other samples. Only Bart's actually eating it. Jaime and Mia stare at him.
"What? I'm maintain cover," he takes another bite of the apple.
"Don't come crying to me when you start growing a second head," Mia softly says.
Arsenal nudges Tim. He gestures to the tanks filled with pink liquid which seems to be feeding the plants.
"What's in those tubes?" Tim asks the tour guide.
"Just water, nutrients, and a little Reach/Lexcorp love. Our next stop is the pluot orchard. That's right—pluots, in April!" she continues the tour.
"She's way to peppy for my taste," Mia comments.
"Time for a bathroom break," Tim comments.
All of them head for the bathrooms. Bart begins to follow the tour group.
"I went before we left," Jaime grabs Bart's shoulder. "Ah, dude, they don't have pluots in the future," he reasons.
"Next time Bart," Mia says.
Sportsmaster stands before the Light.
"State your grievance, Sportsmaster," Savage says.
"The Cape Canaveral op, Manta's son Aqualad killed my daughter Artemis without my permission. As the Light's enforcer, I expect reparations."
'We grieve at your loss and offer substantial monetary compensation,' Luthor offers.
"And normally, I'd be fine with that but this goes to the heart of my rep. Word gets out I took a payoff, I look like a cheap punk."
"Then what do you suggest, old friend?" Savage asks.
"You know the code an eye for an eye—a kid for a kid."
"No one touches my son."
"Agreed. The death of Kaldur'ahm is a non-starter."
"Fine. If the minnow's under the size limit, I'll go fish for the whale."
Sportsmaster throws a weapon at Manta but gets destroyed. He turns around spotting a man clad in orange and black.
"Deathstroke. I see you didn't waste any time hiring my replacement, old friend."
"Fortune favors the prepared."
"You don't say."
The wall explodes behind him. Waiting at the entrance is a helicopter. Sportsmaster hops in and the copter flies away. Deathstroke shoots at the copter until it's out of range.
Western Mongolia
April 9, 07:12 ICT
Jade looks to her dad.
"Don't give me that look, little girl. Honor demanded I make the request! They denied it. Now, I'm free to seal my rep by killing Manta. Oh, and you can take your precious vengeance on Aqualad. Tell me that doesn't make you smile."
Jade remains quiet. "You're mine Aqualad. You'll pay dearly for what you've done to Artemis."
Back in Smallville, Alpha squad hides in the bathroom.
"Ugh. Can we please start the mission now?" Bart complains.
"Fine. Yes. Go," Tim says.
All five exit the stalls. Everyone's in stealth mode except Bart.
"You're in the wrong mode," Tim tells Bart.
"Dude, I crash all modes."
"Stealth mode, hermano."
"Oh, right. Now, where exactly did I—" he begins touching himself trying to find the button that turns on his suit's stealth mode.
Mia shakes her head in shame muttering, "And this is my nephew."
"At least he's not your son."
"That's…"
"Got you didn't I?"
Mia can just picture the assassin smirking in her mind. The assassin becomes quiet. Jaime elbows Bart's arm. The motion changes the speedster's suit into stealth mode.
"Ow. Thanks?" He turns to his aunt. "And what did you mean by that?"
"Later," she responds.
Alpha squad exits the bathroom and hide amongst the hydroponics. Mia and Arsenal are on look out while Tim hacks into the security system. Once he does, they're able to move around freely. Arsenal opens a hatch located next to the tanks.
Each of them jump down and stand still when they spot security guards with their backs turned to them. Tim motions for them to walk in the other direction. They do. While doing so, they end up finding a lab filled with Reach. Alpha spies on them.
"What's she saying?" Tim whisper asks.
'Translating…'
"Ok. Uh, she's warning her technicians to go easy on the additive. Just a sec," Jaime scans the lab and finds something.
'There, Jaime Reyes. The contents of that bin are non-terrestrial in origin.'
"That's it. That's your additive," and Tim's gone.
Mia shakes her head, "Just like Dick."
"Where did he—"
"Shh!" Arsenal shushes Jaime.
Tim grabs an additive without being spotted. He joins back with the group.
"Got what we came for. Let's go," and they leave the lab.
They reach the exit but find it guarded.
"Two guards, one door hack and we're home free," Tim's about to go when Arsenal stops him. "What?"
"Wait for it."
"What did you do?" Mia demands.
Her question's answered when the hatch they used explods causing the entire building to shake.
"You blew up the lab? But this was a covert op! What were you thinking?" Tim shouts.
"That I'm not about to let Lex Luthor and his alien space buddies poison the world just because we don't know exactly what poison they're using. Plus, I enjoy making Lex miserable."
Mia punches him. "Will you forget about Luthor for a goddamn second?! You're obsession with him is sickening and yes I know all of the sabotages you've done to him lately."
Arsenal growls. "How?"
"Not that I know why Roy is telling me about Psycho's activities but he does seem generally worried about the original. God, he even begged me to keep an eye on him." "Red Arrow's been updating me. He even asked me to watch you as a favor."
"Well, that placid scene seems unlikely. I'd say we've been hacked. Try a frequency override," Luthor says watching the security feed.
Mercy changes the frequency and it works. Luthor spots Alpha squad huddling behind some hydroponics.
"Now, that makes more sense," Mercy picks up the phone ready to call security. "No, Mercy. No guards. Guards would be…redundant. Just sit back and enjoy the show."
Bart zooms in and quickly takes down the two guards.
"All clear."
Tim's hacking into the padlock while scolding Arsenal, "You just don't get it, do you? You went off mission. That was a huge mistake."
"Funny, I was about to say the same thing," Black Beetle arrives.
Everyone scatters when he fires at the middle of the circle. Tim brings out his bo staff and attacks Black. Black punches Tim into a rack of hydroponics. Bart zips around Black but Black's able to track him down and attack. The speedster ends up in a crate of tomatoes.
"I may not move as fast as you, meat, but my scarab processes faster than even you can run, let alone think."
Mia appears between the two. She points her new daggers, courtesy of Dr. Palmer, at Black. "Stay away from him."
"Ah the teleporter. My, my."
Arsenal fires a grenade at Black's back. He turns to face Arsenal. Bart picks up the fruit and begins throwing it at the enemy. Mia joins in. The aunt-nephew couple are now throwing endless rounds of tomatoes.
"Now, that's just a waste of good fruit. Unh!" one hits him in the face.
"Ha! Bull's eye," Mia cheers.
"No, that's just a distraction. Ha!"
Arsenal fires a laser that manages to pierce Black's armor. The armor heals itself.
"Anymore tricks, meat?"
"Just a few," Jaime shows up and fires his plasma cannon at Black.
"Ahh…nothing like a warm plasma bath to calm the nerves and clean off the tomato stains."
Jaime switches from plasma to sonic. Both Beetles fire their sonic cannons. The attacks cancel each other out.
"Seriously? The fruit hurt more."
Bart begins running around Black in circles creating a funnel.
"Trying to suck away my oxygen? I hardly touch the stuff."
"Blue, what gives? Last time you threw down with this guy, you were hardcore!" Tim exclaims.
"That wasn't me. Scarab was in control."
"So give it control again."
'So give me control again.'
Arsenal and scarab yell at the same time.
"Believe me, I'd like nothing better but I can't risk that, not with Impulse's prophecy hanging over my head."
"Blue! If you don't like your fate then change it, don't complain about it. Whatever happens we'll figure it out as a team. Trust me when I say that I've been dealt the same hand as you but I changed it so I would have a better future. Now stop complaining and do something," Mia shouts.
"Aw, I feel loved."
"I still hate you."
"You know you love me."
The wind funnel Bart's currently creating makes Black float into the air. He manages to staple Bart into the wall. Without him to keep it going, the funnel disappears.
"Impulse!" Mia shouts. "He's not getting away with this."
"Let me come out. It would be very interesting."
"Don't tempt me."
"Your laser. It's the only thing that's done any damage," Tim tells Arsenal.
"It's not the only thing that'll damage the prick," Mia cracks her knuckles.
She can slowly feel Labiwa's essence influence her actions.
"Let's take him down," Labiwa says.
"Gladly."
Arsenal fires his laser while Mia attacks from behind. She holds onto Black's back and takes out her dagger. The dagger is made of a mixture of white dwarf star and meteorite components.
Atlantic Ocean
April 9, 00:13 EDT
The Flyer meets up with the main ship. Manta and Savage enter Kaldur's room.
"My son, I've brought visitors. Robbed of life, even a noble death. I will have my revenge on the Martian witch that did this to him."
"As a father myself, I understand your pain and the opportunity for vengeance will come. But in the meantime, let's focus on making Kaldur'ahm whole again," a hooded figure walks in. "I borrowed Psimon from Queen Bee for you and your boy. He'll sift Kaldur'ahm's mind for every fractured memory, every buried thought. By the time Psimon's work is complete, your son will be whole, and Psimon will know more about Kaldur'ahm than his own father."
Mia stabs him in the crook of his neck. The dagger chips the armor but that's all the damage it does. Black turns his head glaring at her.
She chuckles nervously. "Heh heh. Oops."
He grabs her by the hair then tosses her right at Tim. He catches her. Black fires his plasma cannon at them. They dodge the attack.
Jaime attacks Black, "You're just toying with us, aren't you?"
"What gave me away?"
Black punches Jaime. Bart wakes up and sees Tim setting up bombs on the wall next to him.
"Time to go?"
"Yeah. Do your thing." Bart vibrates outside. The bombs explode creating an exit for them to escape. "Go, go!"
All of them leave the building.
"Did a quick recon. Want the options? Cornfield or cornfield?" Bart wonders sarcastically.
"Such difficult choices," Mia sarcastically states.
"Cornfield," Tim answers.
Alpha begins running through the cornfield.
"I know you could fly out of here," Bart tells Jaime.
"And you could run about 1,000 miles before Black Beetle could blink. If I took Arsenal, could you carry Robin?"
"Sorry. Fast, not strong."
"Well, Alpha never leaves a man." Mia clears her throat. "Or woman behind."
"How about I teleport us out here? Hmm?"
They enter a clearing.
"We'll double back, maybe lose him," Tim suggests.
"That doesn't seem likely," Black Beetle appears.
Mia frowns. "I'm going to start calling you Black Licorice because no one likes you."
He growls.
"Maybe you should refrain from mocking the villains Blink," Tim warns.
"Where's the fun in that?"
Jaime's walking backwards when he bumps into another Beetle. This time it's green.
"How many colors do these come in, anyway?" Bart asks.
"I wouldn't be surprised if they came in rainbow colors," Mia comments.
"Form up. If we go down, we go down fighting," Tim says.
"I'm betting that sounded more inspirational in your head," Bart adds.
"We're not going down here, I'll make sure of that," Mia grips the dagger's handle tightly.
Black forms a sword and so does Green. However, Green attacks Black. The two of them duke it out. Mia witnesses Green levitate a boulder and throwing it at Black. "Is he a Martian?"
"Warrior, you dare attack me? You scarab rejects are coming out of the woodwork tonight."
"Better to be a reject than a slave."
"Uh, this guy? Not in the history books," Bart informs.
"Then who is he? What is he?" Jaime asks.
"Density shifting, shape shifting, all the powers of a Martian except—" Tim starts.
"Heroes of Earth, I established this link to better coordinate our attack."
"There it is," Mia states.
"Telepathy. That clinches it. This guy's the Blue—Green Beetle of Mars," Tim concludes.
"So another alien? Do we leave them to fight it out?" Arsenal asks.
Black attacks Green with a plasma cannon. He falls into the cornfield which catches on fire.
"Move in, Blue. Frontal assault. Keep Black busy. Impulse, put out the fire. Arsenal, use your laser on that plasma cannon. I want it out of commission. Blink, you're with me."
"On it."
"Right. Be prepared to move."
Everyone does their jobs. Tim throws an exploding bat-arang into Black's back while Mia teleports and stabs him in the arm then leaves as the bat-arang explodes. Bart, Tim and Arsenal go to help Green Beetle. Mia stands in between them and Black. Black stands back up and begins to laugh. All of his injuries are healed. He starts walking towards them.
"Well shit," Mia grumbles.
"I was kind of hoping that might have had a more lasting effect," Arsenal complains.
"Your methods are crude, but you have the right idea," Green looks to Jaime. "Beetle of Earth, fire your sonic cannon at 27 angstroms precisely."
"Uh, my scarab's telling me that tactic will be ineffectual. That's a quote, by the way."
"For one scarab, the tactic would be ineffectual but tonight, it is not alone. 27 angstroms, now."
"Anytime guys," Mia says.
Fearing for her life, Bart quickly grabs Mia and brings her back to the rest of Alpha.
"Seriously?" Mia's ticked off.
"What? I would never forgive myself if you got hurt."
Green and Jaime fire at Black.
"Ha! Tickles!"
The second cannon hits and it actually hurts him. The two waves combine are damaging Black's armor. He finally passes out.
"Scarab says he won't be unconscious for long."
"This is true."
"Then what do we do now?" Bart asks.
"Now, we run."
Green levitates Arsenal, Tim and Mia and flies into the night sky. Jaime carries Bart.
"Dude, what are you doing? Wherever we're going, I could totally get there first. Uh, where are we going?"
"Just enjoy the ride Impulse and by the way, I would get there first," Mia teases.
The only safe haven they use in Smallville is the Kent farm.
"Thanks for the use of your barn, Mr. Kent. Until we check out this Green Beetle, we can't afford to bring him to our HQ lost too many of those already," Nightwing says.
"Well, he's not the oddest thing we've had in this barn and I'll take any excuse to see one of my boys," Jonathan smile at Connor.
He looks over at Mia with a giant smile. "There's my little girl."
Mia hugs him. "Hi Jon."
He kisses her head. "I heard you got hitched. Congratulations."
"Thanks. It was a shame that you and Martha couldn't make it."
"I do believe we still have your wedding present back in the house."
"I'll grab it after we've dealt with this."
"I'm sure Martha will be happy to see you."
"My name is B'aars O'ohm and obviously, I am of Mars," he looks to Jaime. "I imagine my story is not dissimilar to yours. On Mars, I'm what you would call an archaeologist. Two of your Earth years ago, I stumbled upon a scarab which attached itself to my person."
"Yeah. That last part sounds familiar."
"From the scarab, I learned of the Reach and their plan for the galaxy. Millennia ago, they sent out one scarab to every planet sporting primitive life. The scarab bonds with, and takes full control over, it's native host, giving the Reach an advanced operative for their inevitable invasion."
"But my scarab malfunctioned and didn't take full control. That's why the Reach wants to reboot it by killing me."
"So, did your scarab malfunction, too?" Arsenal wonders.
"No. But it was not prepared for the Martian physiology, which allowed me to take control of the scarab instead of the other way around."
"Still doesn't explain how you wound up here," Nightwing states.
"For decades, the one you call Martian Manhunter has sent communications from your world to ours—television signals. They are quite entertaining."
"All Martians love television," Tim tells Arsenal.
"And Oreo cookies," Mia adds.
"Indeed. But when it became clear that the Reach were on Earth, I believe my assistance here would be required."
"The Justice League will need to confirm your story," Nightwing states.
"But for now, thanks," Tim comments.
Nightwing, Tim and Mia walk away to have a private chat.
"So, other than our new friend here, how'd the mission go?"
"Not quite as planned. Arsenal…"
"More like Psycho," Mia adds.
"Is a little rough around the edges. But I guess it all worked out, and we brought back a sample of the alien additive for analysis."
"Why didn't he tell Dick about the exploding lab?" Mia furrows her brows.
"Can't ask for more. Good work," Nightwing notes Mia's expression. "Blink."
"Hmm?"
"Anything to add?"
She slyly glances at Tim then looks back at Nightwing shrugging. "Just deep in thought."
"You sure you can handle Arsenal?"
"If I can handle Red Arrow, I'm sure I can handle this little punk."
"Good," he smiles.
She smiles back.
B'aars still has the link up and begins talking to Jaime.
"Forgive this mental intrusion, Jaime Reyes. But your fear screams out to me. You fear losing yourself to your scarab, and so, wish it removed but I am here to tell you, there is another way."
Jaime stares at him in disbelief.
"All in all, the damage is minor. In fact, the most profitable piece of business was left entirely untouched and seemingly undiscovered."
Luthor shows Savage the belt filled with bottled drinks.
"The first crops have been harvested and distilled. Shipments are already being distributed to needy nations and soon will be available worldwide," Luthor picks up a bottle. "Amazing how one little bottle contains everything the body needs."
"Or more accurately, everything the Reach needs it to need," Savage comments.
The duo head back to the office.
"Did the children procure a sample of the additive?"
"As anticipated. The Team was quite effective," Luthor pushes an open file filled with pictures of kids towards Savage. "We really must form one of our own."
