Mount Justice- May 20- 4:00 P.M
"Are we certain it was Nightshade?" Aqualad asked while the security footage played one more time. There was really no doubt about who the one that had burned those inmates alive was. It was Nightshade, for a few minutes Nightshade had shown up and after her conversation with Tetch, Nightfall had returned.
"She doesn't look like she wants to be there though," Batgirl told them. "Nightfall looks rather angry, but not at Tetch," she pointed out, stealing a glance at Nightwing who seemed lost in thought while watching the footage. After their fight, the two of them haven't had time to talk and he had been feeling off lately, he wasn't talking to her about other things outside of missions.
"Call Nightfall," said Balck Canary walking into the room. She was injured, and when she noticed the team staring, she put the jacket on to cover her bandages.
"What happened?" Rocket asked.
"I need to talk with her," she simply said and went into the training room to wait for Nightfall while they called her.
"What is it?" asked Nightfall stepping through a portal into the lounge room. The team stared at her, they wanted to ask about Nightshade, but there she left them no room to talk. "Where is she?" Nightfall asked.
"Training room," answered Beast Boy. Nightfall went to the training room and as soon as she stepped into the room Black Canary threw her a metallic pole which she caught with her left hand.
"Aren't you right-handed?" asked Black Canary spinning the staff around.
"I'm not, but Nightshade is," she answered looking at the staff in her hand, "what do you want?" she asked looking at the team that was gathered around them.
"I just want to test something," said Black Canary with a smirk on her face. Nightfall smiled and spun the staff a few times before running towards Black Canary. She held it over her head, ready to strike down when Black Canary blocked and pushed her away from her. Nightfall swung the staff and hit Black Canary on the side, but she returned the hit with another one to the leg. Black Canary got ready to land another one but she was blocked by Nightfall, so while she tried to push back, Nightfall kicked her in the stomach. Black Canary regained her balance and threw a couple of kicks alternating them with punches. Nightfall tried to block them all, but Black Canary was faster and hit her multiple times.
"You do know I'm holding back, right?" asked Black Canary as she dropped to the floor and did a sweeping kick that brought Nightfall to the ground, awarding a point to Black Canary. "You're terrible," Black Canary told her, extending her hand to help the girl up, but she didn't take it.
"I'm a little rusty, that's all. It's been five years since I last practiced," Nightfall told her. Five years since Nightshade had shown up, five years since Nightfall had spared anyone. The fight was about to go on when Red Tornado stepped into the room.
"Your presence is needed in the Watchtower," he said. Black Canary got ready to leave, "all of you," he said looking at Nightfall, they all looked at each other and followed Red Tornado towards the Zeta tubes.
Once inside, the team, Black Canary, Nightfall and Red Tornado were greeted with a peculiar sight. Justice League members laid out on the ground with Shazam and Wonder Woman standing in the middle of it all. Black Canary and Red Tornado walked up to the two remaining leaguers and went over a short briefing within them before turning around to explain it to the team.
"Parasite is back," Wonder Woman informed them. Confusion filled half of the group's faces while Miss Martian, Nightwing, Artemis and Superboy knew exactly who she was talking about. "We had a run-in with him. We are the only group that is left from the Justice League, the others were severely injured and as you can see, are currently recovering from the attack," she finished explaining.
"This feels fishy as fuck," Artemis whispered, leaning closer towards Batgirl and Nightfall.
"Where were you attacked?" Aqualad asked, examining the room. Most of the leaguers were unconscious and the ones that weren't were only just waking up.
"Parasite infiltrated the WatchTower, he was with us for some time. We don't know his current whereabouts. The reason we called you all here was to devise a plan to capture him and get him out of the Watch Tower. Nightfall, I understand you used to have some information on the league? Since he stole our powers, we should also be able to keep track of possible weaknesses with that," Wonder Woman said. This statement caused some members of the team to look back at Nightfall in surprise, but neither Red Tornado or Shazam seemed to be bothered by the statement, the only one caught off guard was Black Canary.
"Found you," Nightwing whispered, as the whole team tensed up.
"Right, that thing. I actually have an updated backup right here," She drew her hand towards her belt and pulled out a small USB. At the sight of it, their eyes glimmered. "Do you...want it?" she taunted.
"It would greatly help the investigation," Red Tornado answered. Nightfall took a few steps forward, her arm extended with the USB, Shazam rushed to grab it, but at the last second Nightfall pulled back and avoided him. After that, Artemis pulled out an arrow that pinned Wonder Woman to the ground and Miss Martian lifted Red Tornado into the air. Zatanna cast a spell that sent Shazam flying into the wall. The only one the team spared was Black Canary who collapsed onto the ground trying to avoid Shazam.
"They got you too, huh?" Nightfall asked putting away the USB. It must have been when they huddled up for a talk, Nightfall figured. She extended her hand towards Black Canary, but when she took it, instead of standing up, she pulled Nightfall down with her. Her expression changed from one in pain to a mocking one. "Fuck," she said, feeling her powers leave her body. Batgirl knocked Black Canary off of her, but partial damage had been done. Nightfall was painfully panting on the ground, her hands started patting down her belt to check if the USB was still there, and she only relaxed when she felt it. "What the fuck is that?" she asked leaning on Batgirl who pulled her up.
"Parasite, he steals life energy from his victims and if his victims happen to have powers, he gets those too," Superboy explained. "He has one major flaw though, he gets powers, but also weaknesses," he told them.
"Does that really even matter at this point? He has the powers of all the Justice League combined. He can offset any weakness with someone else's power," Rocket reminded them. The team stared at the three leaguers that started slowly merging into one until Parasite showed his true grotesque face. Nightfall extended her arm and trapped his feet in shadows, her powers were diminished, but he hadn't been able to completely take them away.
"What are you doing?" Beast Boy asked.
"Testing something," Nightfall answered and when Parasite broke from her bound, she retreated. "Better than expected," the girl whispered. Parasite locked his sights on the team, especially on Superboy. He flew right up to him, but Miss Martian blocked him. She trapped him in her mind and the two of them seemed to be merged in some sort of psychic battle.
"We need to figure out whose powers he has," Batgirl told them. "Nightwing, you and I should check the security footage," she said. Nightwing nodded and he and Batgirl ran deeper into the tower. Aqualad glanced at Beast Boy who nodded and ran after them.
"Artemis, you, Zatanna and Rocket keep him occupied," Aqualad told them looking at Miss Martian, she was bound to lose that battle. "Nightfall, Kid Flash, Superboy, and I will check the Tower for anything we can use against him," Aqualad ordered, and as soon as Miss Martian gave in and Parasite took her powers Aqualad and Superboy ran away from the room, Kid Flash picked up Nightfall who could barely stand and followed the other two.
"What's your plan again?" Asked Kid Flash as he caught up with them.
"As soon as Nightwing and Batgirl tell us who Parasite still has in his system, we counterattack. The League must keep something around here in case of emergencies," Aqualad explained as they ran, examining every room they passed by. Kid Flash and Nightfall went ahead of the other two, and while Kid Flash was distracted examining the rooms, Nightfall noticed a shadowy figure following them.
"Guys, this is not going to be fun…" Nightfall told them pointing behind Kid Flash, he turned around to see a shadow construct coming up right behind them.
"Please tell me you can do something about it?" Kid Flash asked, but Nightfall shook her head. "Thought so," he said and without dropping Nightfall he ran deeper into the hall.
Meanwhile Batgirl, Nightwing and Beast Boy had already gotten to the security room and were going through the footage to determine when Parasite had gotten each leaguer and how much time he had left with each power. So far they were able to determine that he had Superman, Green Arrow, Captain Atom, Wonder Woman, Black Canary, Shazam, Miss Martian, and partially Nightfall. The rest of the League had been knocked out for 24 hours or more.
"Guys, we have 5 more hours of Superman, Green Arrow and Captain Atom. 12 more of Wonder Woman, Black Canary, and Captain Marvel. 23 of Nightfall and almost 24 of Miss Martian," Beast Boy informed while the group got ready to join Artemis and the other in holding him back when two shadow constructs emerged from the ground.
"Beast Boy, get out of here and don't let him touch you," Batgirl whispered. The kid turned into a fly and left through the air vent.
"Which one do you wanna take?" Batgirl asked, but without answering, Nightwing just went for the left one.
Kid Flash and Nightfall had just reached another dead end in the WatchTower, there were no more rooms left to check, or so they thought until something caught Kid Flash's attention, a small crack on the wall. He placed Nightfall on the ground and slid his fingers into the crack revealing a retinal security check, out of curiosity, he placed his face near the system, but his access was denied.
"I guess we're screwed huh?" He asked looking back at Nightfall. "Did you really make it again?" He asked talking about the USB with their weaknesses, strengths and secret identities.
"Yep, as soon as I destroyed the other one. So if you're going to say anything, it's a few years too late," Nightfall told him. She was going to lean against the wall to get up, but she suddenly felt a hand brush against hers. She looked down to see Black Canary, Wonder Woman, and Captain Marvel laying unconscious against the wall. "Woah," was all she managed to say before Kid Flash looked down at them.
"So this is where he hid them," he said, suddenly he grabbed Wonder Woman and pulled her up to the retinal scan. "This feels so wrong," he said, opening her eye to gain access to the room. While he was scanning, Parasite appeared out of a shadow portal.
"Bet that didn't feel so good," Nightfall gave him a weak smirk as he shivered while coming out of the portal. He extended his hand to touch her, but Nightfall blocked him with a shadow forcefield. "Kid Flash, make it fast!" Nightfall told him as she flinched with every hit Parasite threw at the force field. Kid Flash was struggling when Nightfall felt something clasp around her wrist, she looked down to see Black Canary looking up at her.
"You know what you have to do," she said in a weak voice. "Nightshade can stop Parasite, you're just being dead weight for Kid Flash," Black Canary continued.
"You think I haven't tried? She doesn't want to," Nightfall told her.
"Try harder then," she said letting go of Nightfall. The girl mocked her in her mind one last time before putting the shield down and letting Parasite grab her.
"Come on, Nightshade," she said before passing out from Parasite's touch just as Kid Flash managed to open the door and lock himself inside.
"Holy shit," he said once inside, weapons stacked on the walls, including some kryptonite lined with lead. Kid Flash grabbed some and put it in his belt. "This should take care of Superman, and Superboy just in case," he said. He grabbed one of the guns in the corner and a couple more bullets. "Nightfall. Now something for Miss Martian and it should be okay," he said, but while he was looking, Parasite ripped the door open.
"Guys, back up should be fine," He said through the comm, but no one answered. Did that mean that all of them had been absorbed by Parasite? He looked up at the monster who smirked and attacked him with purple energy blasts followed by a water construct of a sword that he tried to ram into his chest, but Kid Flash managed to move at the last minute. "God Dammit, who's left?" he asked once again.
"I am," He heard a voice from behind. Beast Boy was standing in the corner. He turned into a giant gorilla and threw a punch at Parasite who caught it and sent him flying to the other side of the room. "Sorry, that wasn't much help," Beast Boy said, changing into a tiger.
"It was a good distraction," the two of them heard a familiar voice, turning around they saw Nightshade standing where Nightfall was once lying unconscious.
"Didn't I already take care of you?" Parasite asked.
"You could say that," she answered, "so let me return the favor," she said and flames came out from the ground surrounding him.
"What? But Superman is immune to fire? He said while falling to his knees.
"Yes, but he's not immune to Kryptonite," said Kid Flash revealing the open lead box with the glowing rock inside of it. The color of the flames shifted to an icy blue burning harder than before. "Plus, the last people you absorbed included Miss Martian and Aqualad, they are both weak to fire," he explained.
"Oh, and my favorite," Nightshade said as Kid Flash pulled out the gun he had picked up. It hadn't been used in a while and he could feel it. "Nightfall who's deadly weak to bullets," she told him as Kid Flash pulled the trigger and shot Parasite in the shoulder, incapacitating him enough for Beast Boy to place a collar around his neck neutralizing his powers.
Once Kid Flash saw Nightshade, he rushed over to hug her. A stunned Nightshade took a couple of seconds before returning the hug. "Please don't disappear again," he told her, letting go of the girl.
"Is she that bad?" Nightshade asked leaning down to help Black Canary up.
"She is. You remade the file?" she asked.
"I did. I needed it," Nightshade asked, letting go of Black Canary. The woman didn't answer, so the group moved on to where the rest of the League and the team were. Half of the Justice League were already up and recovering while the others were still unconscious. When they walked into the room, Nightshade kept herself away from the large windows, Huntress noticed and she walked up to the girl.
"Relax, we're just floating in space," she teased her.
"Yeah but it somehow doesn't feel real…as long as I don't look out the windows," she said taking a few deep breaths, "which are massive," Nightshade held her breath as the large floor to ceiling window showed her that they were, in fact, floating in space. "Well, this is officially the highest place I've ever been to…could you…do something about that?" she asked but she just ignored her.
The team had also started to wake up, Kid Flash and Beast Boy were helping them while Nightshade handed the USB to the League. They questioned her on why she would need it, but the girl wouldn't give them an answer. Though suspicious, the League took the USB and locked it up in the vault where Kid Flash had gotten all the weapons he planned to use on Parasite. Nightshade went over to the team and was greeted with a hug from Rocket.
"Where's the little twerp?" she asked noticing Robin was missing from the group.
"He's with Batman, last time I heard…" Batgirl answered and turned to look at Nightwing who checked his phone.
"He's gone," he said, the hand holding the phone started trembling and all the color left his face as he spoke. "Jason's dead," he told them, looking up at the team and then exchanging glances with Superman and Wonder Woman.
"What? What happened?" Beast Boy asked.
"The Joker killed him," he said before Batgirl and him left for the cave.
