Bialya. September 4, 12:12pm.
The moonlight casts over the waves of sand of the Bialya Dessert, no life can be seen for miles, except for the lone unconscious being with snow-white skin laid across the sandy blanket.
green/blue-eyes flutter open to the sound of the winds blowing around him. He tries to sit up only to fall back and holding his throbbing head. "Oh man, what hit me?" He groaned out. Breathing deeply he tries again and succeeding in not falling back.
Once he is finally seated up he gets a good look around. "What the…?" His eyes narrow in confusion at the scene around him. "Where the heck am I? How did I get here?" His voice slowly showing hints of panic.
He had the right to feel like this. He was in the middle of a freaking desert! Not to mention alone.
Alone.
That thought alone causes him to search frantically. "Baby Bird?" No response. "Bats?" Still nothing. "Anyone?" None.
Realizing he was going to get nowhere just sitting around he stands and makes his way to an unknown destination but stops when he looks down at himself noticing the all-black wear. "Whoa." Eyebrows raised impressed. "I know that I said I'd never wear black but damn, I look good!"
He catches a lock of black hair falling to his face and reaches to touch it only to find it's only painted. He then touches his face and feels the mask on the top part of his face.
He continues his walk as he tries to figure out what was going on. 'Ok, Now let's see, the last thing I remember was patrolling with Baby Bird and Bats in the city, how did I end up here? Better question is, where is here?' He thinks looking around.
Suddenly, something crashes a few feet away from sending sand to the air. Jester shrieks in surprise, he was not expecting that at all. Nor was he expecting to find one of the sexiest guys he had ever seen crouched low and glaring at him with striking-blue eyes, black hair, and a well-toned shape.
"Whoa." He said with a grin. "Maybe this place isn't so bad." Eyeing the newcomer up and down.
The only reply he gets is the harsh panting and animalistic growls, his eyes lower more in boild rage. Jester's grin falls to one in concern and steps back. "Uh, you okay there?" It was then he noticed the red 'S' symbol printed on the teen's shirt.
Before he could question it the teen lets out a roar before launching at him. Eyes widening in shock Jester leaps out of the way just in time. "Whoa, whoa, wait!" He never gets his say because he leaps away when the teen tries to go for him again, this time with a raised fist.
Acting fast Jester frantically searching for something to defend himself, he reaches back to feel the handle of his bat and pulls it out in front of him only for the other teen to grab hold of the other end and uses it to fling the pale teen away.
Jester lands hard on the sand, his bat landing out of his reach he manages to sit up and look up at the still enraged teen. With nothing else to defend himself, he starts to tremble. Growling, the teen charges and Jester's expression turns to one of fear.
The blue-eyed male charges and pulls his arm back ready to strike when he catches a glimpse of the fear of the treat's face, what he see's next widens his eyes. The sight of the scared teen disappears in a flash of light and is replaced by him smiling at him before returning back.
Jester flinches and ducks his head with closed eyes preparing for the blow. But it never comes. Taking a chance he lifts his head only to meet with the stranger's face just centimeters away from causing him to yelp and jump back.
The teen looks to be more calmed down, though a frown still held in his face as he studies the manic in deep concentration. He crawls forward making the clown lean back, his arms supporting him from behind as he tried to put as much space from them as possible but failed.
"Um, what are you doing?" He stutters out with a nervous grin.
The teen doesn't answer but finally leans into the side of Jester's thin cheek and…
Sniffs him.
Jester does nothing but blink as the teen continues to sniffs the side of his face, lowing down to his neck. The clown giggles at the tickling sensation but stops when the teen draws his head back with a confused look. Jester stares back with a look of his own.
Blue-eyes then lower down, Jester follows his interest and finds he is staring at his chest. Before he could question anything, the black-haired male head lowers and presses against the clown's chest, his ear over where the heart was. The clown stays stiff as a board.
The other for his part had found the treat's heartbeat entranced that he had to get better listening to. The sound of his heart beating against him reduces his tensed state, it was soothing. He closes his eyes and leans in closer. A second later he lets out a deep, rumbling, sound from his own chest. It sounded like he was...purring.
Jester feels the teen's body completely relax and hears the purring. He shakily lifts his hand and places his hand on the short black hair and begins to massage the scalp causing the other to purr louder. The mad teen can't help but grin in amusement. The way he was acting reminded him of a feisty kitten wanting affection.
Suddenly, the teen pulls back with a whip. His body tensed and his eyes full-on alert as if he was waiting for something. The action reminding of a wild animal standing still as it listens deeply.
Jester takes this opportunity to grab his bat and secures it on his back. He grows concerned after a few minutes when the teen still hasn't moved from his position. "You alright, there?" He asks but does not receive a response.
Another minute passes when the teen stands up suddenly and grabs hold of the clown pulling him against him with one arm looped around his waist and the other under his legs, carrying him bridal-style.
"Hey, Hey! What are you-" He never finishes due to the teen super-leaping high into the air. The action startling him that he hooks his arms around the teen's neck. "A little warning would be great!" He said annoyed. Seeing no way to escape his hold he goes along for the ride.
The other still doesn't respond. Landing hard then taking off again to who knows where.
Not too far away a teen martian with green-skin and red-hair comes through holding her head, sitting up as she looks around her surroundings.
In her own language, she observes the scenery when she clearly finds that she is not on mars. Then it hits her. She knew this place! "Hello, Megan. I'm on Earth!" However, that doesn't explain why she was here. She stands and walks down the lump mountain of sand.
'But how did I get to Earth? Why am I wearing this costume? And why does my head hurt so much?' Her thoughts are interrupted when she trips and rolls down the steep hill. Groaning she sits back up wondering.'Is this a dream?'
She snaps her head up startled when something crashes feet away from her revealing a bulky teen with black hair carrying another male with bleached skin in his arms.
green/blue eyes stare at her in confusion. "Is she the reason for you bringing us here?" The only response he gets is a growl, not directed towards him, but to the martian. The male then places Jester on his feet and pushes him behind him to block him from her view.
She looks down and notices the symbol on the teen's shirt. She knew it. "Wait. I've seen that symbol. Are you Superman?" She asks him carefully.
The next moment both the clown and the martian are unprepared by the loud roar the teen lets out, ripping the printed symbol from his shirt and launching at the girl like a crazed animal.
"Wait, don't!" Jester calls out but fails to get the other's attention but fails.
The martian leaps out of the way to avoid be collied. When the feral teen charges a second time she takes to the sky.
Jester rushes and grabs onto the black-haired male's arm when he gets ready to pounce again in an effort to stop him. "What are you doing!?" He said struggling to hold him. "Stop!"
The front of his shirt is then grabbed by a large hand and the clown finds himself being flung to the side causing him to roll on the ground.
He looks up in time to see the martian shielding herself with a force field when the male launched at her, the force deflecting them both to the ground.
But the feral teen is not done as he charges at her one more time for the final blow when he is tackled by the side by a blur of white. They roll until Jester manages to get his feet on the other's chest and kicking him away before quickly getting up and standing in front of the shaken martian blocking her from view. "I said stop." He said firmly, standing his ground.
The other growls in anger and crouches low. Eyes glaring at the clown's own when a flash comes again replacing the clown's glare with an image of him laughing before returning back to normal.
Confused he shakes his head, sending one last glare before leaping away from them.
Then he is gone.
Megan stares at the leaving teen. Shaken of what just happened she draws her legs to her chest, resting her chin to her knees trying to appear small. 'Not a dream.' She thinks. 'A nightmare.'
"Hey. Are you alright? Sorry about that. Don't know what his problem is. I literally just met him."
Startled by the closeness of the voice she snaps her up head to meet the owner squatted in front of her a look of concern on his face. "You ok? Are you sick, because you look a little green." He then grins. "Get it? Because your skin is green!" He blows in a fit of giggles.
The Martian's eyes widen at his laugh. It sounded familiar. A light flashed before her eyes and the still laughing teen with black hair is replaced with one of green-hair but with the same snow-white skin. Who was he?
She is brought back from her thoughts when a fingerless gloved hand appears in front of her. She looks up to see the stranger's kind smile. She hesitates for a second but takes hold and is lifted to her feet. "Um. Thank you for that."
The teen's grin widens. "No problem. I honestly don't think that guy was from around here, come to think of it, neither do you." He says then eyeing her appearance. "Green skin, able to fly, and a giant 'x' on your shirt." His voice trails off when he noticed the symbol. "Ok, either your Manhunter who's going through a trans stage or you are one hell of a cosplayer."
"Manhunter?" Her eyes then widen in realization. "You must mean my uncle J'onn!" Maybe he would be able to help her.
"Uncle J'onn? Wait. Manhunter has a niece? And your her?" He receives a nod. "Whoa. I owe Wally so much s'more bars. He said scratching his head before smiling again. "What am I saying? It's really great to meet ya!" He sticks out his hand. "The names Jester, don't wear it out." He said winking.
The martian grabs hold and shakes trying to hold in her giggle. She was starting to like Jester's perky personality.
'M'gann M'orzz."
"I can't believe it. I'm actually on Earth!" Megan shouted happily.
"Yea. though It's a shame the only thing you've seen is this giant sandbox, though." Jester said clinging on the Martians side as they flew through the sky. The nighttime had drifted away and out came the morning light.
"I don't mind it. I've wanted to come here for so long! Even if it's not exactly like TV, it's still Earth." Then a thought comes through. "But the big thing concerning me is why can't I remember how I got here?"
"Same here. The last thing I remember was being in Gotham then zip! Here I am." The clown said.
Megan found that strange. Neither one of them had no memory of how they ended up in the middle of a dessert alone. She had to try something.
"I have to stop." She halts then lowers them to the ground. Jester let's go.
The bleached-teen looked worried at the sudden halt. "Why? What's wrong?"
Megan for her part, still levitating, sits crossed legged with her posture straightened. "I'm going to try to regain my memories. Hopefully, they will have the answers, but I need to be in deep concentration."
"Oh. That makes sense. Ok, you do your thing, I'll just, uh." He shuffles his foot on the sand. "I'll sit right here." He plops down on the ground mimicking the Martian position waiting patiently.
With a nod, she closes her eyes and begins. 'Concentrate.' Her voice echos in her mind. 'Remember.' Her eyes glow as they snap open.
Flash.
She sees herself standing in front of the feral teen with the wild look in his eye, ripping off his shirt and launching at her with a roar.
Flash.
In the next image, she sees him again, only this time he looks more civil and calm and nothing like how he was before standing in front of a machine.
"Good idea." She hears a voice say. "Go."
The black-haired male then looks at her before saying to her. "Be careful."
Flash.
The following she is looking down at Jester who is looking up at her, she must have been levitating, giving her a warning look. "Don't get caught otherwise Im taking back all the nail products I gave you."
She hears herself giggle at his concern. "Don't worry, I won't."
Flash
In the final scene, she finds herself in a kitchen holding a tray of cookies, the dark-haired teen is there once again taking one from the tray with a grin. "Careful, Superboy." She tells him. So that was his name. "They're hot."
Just then the cookie is snatched from his hand by another male with red hair and wearing a bright yellow suit with the symbol of a lightning bolt on his chest. He grins flirtily at her. "Not as hot as you, babe." He said tossing the treat in his mouth.
Annoyed about having his own treat snatched Superboy takes another one.
"Thanks, Wally. That's, um, sweet." She said.
"Mmm. Not as sweet as you, sugar." He tells her winking.
He yelps when he is a whack upside the head by a female blond wearing all green. "Oh, grow up." She scoffs at him then taking a cookie for herself.
"Ooh. What smells good?" Coming into view beside Superboy is Jester with green-hair rather than black.
His face goes from excitement to one of disappointment when he eyes the tray. "Aw man, cookies? Not to mention sugar cookies!?" He crosses his arms and turns his head away in a pout. "You're a cruel one, Red."
She giggles at his behavior. "Don't worry Jester. I made this especially for you." She holds up a creamy caramel color cupcake with white frosting for him to take.
His eyes perk up at the sight of the sweet treat and take it with a big grin and sniffing it. "Butterscotch! Red, you are a doll." He says in thanks and takes a big bite, humming at the sweet taste.
Superboy lifts his hand wiping away the crumbs stuck on Jester's cheek with his thumb. The clown is too engrossed with his treat to notice.
Just then Batman's voice from the intercom above them fills the room. "Team, report to the mission room."
Flash.
"I'm on a team!"
Her outburst jolts Jester in surprise. "What now?"
During her excitement, she grabs hold of his hands. "You too! Were both on a team. We have friends. You and I are friends."
The clown's eyes widen at the information. "I...Im on a team? Wait, does that mean I'm part of the League!?" He said enthusiastically. "We are right? Who's on the team?"
Dropping her hands the martian stands rubbing her arm nervously. "Um. I'm actually not sure what team we are. But I did see who's in it." She counts her fingers. "There's, um, oh! Wally."
Jester grins at the familiar name. "That's Sunshine!"
"A girl with blond hair and green suit, what was her name? Oh right. Artemis."
"Don't know her." He tilts his head in confusion.
"A boy with a yellow cape and a black mask, really short too."
"That's Baby Bird!" Jester's cries out in joy. Relieved that his little bro was on the team with him but is still uneased about where he could be right now.
"And Superboy, the one with the feral animal characteristics from before."
Jesters face then turns into a dreamy one. "I'm loving this team already." He said with a sigh. Images of the now named fear teen, Superboy, popping into his mind. Realizing what he was doing he shakes away the thoughts of the yummy hunk. "But wait, where are they then?"
"I'm not sure, but I have a feeling we weren't the only ones who lost memories. We need to find them and fast." She extends her arm. "Grab on." Which the clown did and resumes his position back beside her side, clinging as they take back into the air.
'Hello? Um, team?'
The voice inside his head startles Jester that he actually jumps causing the martian to almost drop him. "What the heck was that!?" He cried holding his head.
Megan regains her hold on him, an apologetic look on her face. "So Sorry! I should have warned you first. I'm trying to call them out telepathically."
"Oh, makes sense."
"But I'm not getting a response." She says. "Maybe they're just out of my range." with that they begin their search for their missing teammates.
It doesn't take long to find them.
After a while, in the air, a loud boom can be heard in the distance grabbing both teen's attention. Suddenly the martian halts when her head begins to throb.
Flash.
An image of Superboy appears, a blast exploding behind as he screams in agony.
Flash.
'Superboy! Where are you?' She looks around, desperately trying to find the distraught male.
Jester also searches when he spots something. 'There!' He points out. Not too far from them a cloud of black smoke drifting to the sky. The martian takes off in that direction with great speed.
It's not until a few moments later that a high-speed humming sound catches the clown's attention making him look behind, what he saw made his eyes go wide. 'Incoming from behind!'
The martian whips her head back to see two drones heading right towards them. She yelps as she ducks away in time before the machines collide with them. Jester stares in confusion when the drone continues moving without turning back and attacking. 'That's not right. When Drones lock something on target they follow them until they get the job done. They're completely ignoring us, though.'
'Then that must mean-'
'They have someone else in mind.' Jester confirmed. 'Question is who?'
He doesn't have to wait long for an answer when Megan grips her head again as another image pops into her head. 'I think I found the who.'
KF speeds away over the sandy lumps with Artemis in his arms as fast as he could to escape the destruction the ballistic teen with black hair was causing with the army tanks.
Unfortunately due to him tripping on a rock while running downhill they fall and roll all the way down until finally stopping at the bottom.
The sound of humming causes them to look up into the sky two drones flying past them, circling back to them and opening fire.
"Get down!" KF shouted dragging the blonde to the ground when the shower of bullets hits the sand beside them, missing them. The drones come back for another round and Artemis takes an arrow, readies her bow, and aims.
'Don't worry, We're almost there!' She gasps. The voice startles her causing her aim to miss the drones entirely
She turns to the redhead with a spooked expression. "Did you just hear a girl talking in your head?" Wanting to know what she heard wasn't her imagination.
"Girls are always on my mind." He said with a smirk. "But they're not usually talking."
Up from above MM and Jester fly above the drones. The Martian lifts her hand, aiming at the machine, and clenches it closed to a fist. Using her force to make them crash into each other, exploding on contact. A loud boom with fire and smoke fill the skies.
Levitating down She and Jester land in front of the two other members of their teen.
Jester gives the speedster the biggest grin, relieved that he found a familiar face. "Sunshine!" His eyes then looming on redheads darker wear. "Or should I say, Midnight? I see you gave up the banana look for good." He tells him grinning.
KF for his part looks at the all-black clothed teen in confusion. "Sorry, who are you?"
Jester's face drops. "Aw, come on, you can't be that dense." He takes off his mask and ruffled his hair with his hands trying to shake off as much of the black paint that he could. Soon the familiar bright green shade comes into view.
This time the redhead's reaction is one of shock. "Jess!?" He cried out. This time he gets a proper look at his outfit. The tight black turtleneck and slim, baggy, jeans. Only one thought comes into mind. "Dude, you're hot."
The comment receives a look of surprise from MM, shock from Artemis, and disbelief from Jester before turning into a frown and marching at him. The nerve of this guy!
"Are you serious!?" He grabs the redhead's ear and taking receiving a yelp from the speedster. "Were out in the middle of nowhere apparently being hunted down for dead and all you think about is how hot I am!? Can't you keep that little friend of yours under control for at least a second, you pervert!" He shouted finally releasing his ear.
Rubbing his sore ear the redhead's eyes widen further at the clowns frowning face resembling an angry kitten. 'Oh god, he's cute."
Unfortunately, he didn't know he was linked to MM's mind.
"We heard that!" Shouted both females.
Jester growls in frustration taking a threatening step forward but stops when the redhead waves his hand pleadingly. "Whoa, whoa, wait! I'm sorry, ok? It's just surprising you with this new look." He gestured his wear and his hair. "It looks good, the new you and all. Definitely not hitting on you. Just making an observation" That tone was directed toward Artemis as if wanting her to know that he only had eyes on her.
To avoid making things even more awkward he turns his attention to the new girl. "Well, J'onn, the costume looks familiar, But I'm not sure the new bod screams 'Manhunter.'"
MM's eyes light up at that. "You know my uncle J'onn? Hello, Megan, of course, you do. You're Kid Flash. Wally. And you're Artemis." She said pointing at the blonde.
"Wait, wait, wait. Martian Manhunter's your uncle?" The redhead grins at the new information. "Yes!" He cheered pumping his fist into the air. "You owe me s'more bars." He pointed the clown with a smug look only to back up when Jester growls at him.
"Anyway is that how you know my name?" He asked her.
Artemis turns to him with a raised brow. "Your name is really Wally?"
"Ohh." He groaned out.
"It's ok," MM reassures them. "We're teammates. Friends. I made you cookies. Well, I made you cookies, I made Jester a cupcake."
"You know them?" Artemis asked the speedster resting a hand on her hip waiting for an answer. The clown can hint at a tone of jealousy in her voice.
"I only know Jess, he's basically a psychotic brother to me." He ducks his head to avoid the slap aimed at his head. "But I swear, beautiful, never seen her before in my life." He points to the martian. "At least-"
MM sighs. She was right. "You both lost your memories, too." She looks back at the cloud of black smoke before looking back at them.
"Come on." She begins to walk. "We'll fill you in as we go. Robin and Superboy need our help." With that, the others follow.
"Of course," KF said sarcastically. "Robin and super what now?"
Robin backflips to avoid getting hit by the bullets from the Baliyan soldier's machine guns.
With the day set, the moon emerges for her time. The Boy Wonder had wandered through the desert to find anything that would help regain his memory when he comes upon an abandoned boxed shaped machine. When going for a closer look he was ambushed as soldiers laid buried in the sand and firing at him.
The men raise their guns and open fire again when a black blur zooms in, taking their weapons. "I'll hold that!" The speedster said. He takes the guns from the rest of them "Thanks!" And dumps them on the ground before speeding and bumping the men to the ground.
Two soldiers sneak behind Robin and take aim but are thrown back by MMs force with the martian landing down.
Wally grabs hold of one of the men's ankles twirling him around and throwing him against two other soldiers, knocking them all to the ground.
One tries to run off but is wrapped in ropes from one of Artemis's arrows.
The younger's face lightens a little at the sight of the redhead. "K.F!" He takes hold of the speedster's hand in greeting. "Man, it's good to see a familiar face."
The redhead grins. "Hey, Rob." Before his eyes look to the side for a second then returning to him. "Brace yourself."
Robin eyes him confused. Before he can question anything he is tackled by a psychotic green-head. They both roll on the sand when they stop with Jester sitting up holding his little bro in a tight embrace with him sitting between his legs. "Thank god, I found you Baby Bird. I'm not letting you out of my sights again!" He cried out, rubbing his cheek against the raven hair.
Due to the unexpected hug attack, it takes a moment for Robin to come to his senses when he realizes who was holding him. "Jess!?"
Jester pulls back to get a good look at him with a grin. "Well, who else, shrimp?"
Laughing Robin latches onto his brother's embrace in the joy that he finally found him. "Dude, I've been looking for you everywhere!"
"Same!" The clown said hugging the teen tighter. "After this is over I'm putting a tracking bug on you."
The younger chuckles at his brother's words and nuzzles deeper in the embrace.
They can feel the other's gaze on them. One was of puzzlement while the other two with calm expressions but they didn't care.
No one would understand the strong bond the two brothers had. That story was for another time.
"Memory wiped clean, too?" Jester asked as both boys finally broke apart.
"Yea. 6 months." He confirms. " Let's hogtie these creeps and compare notes." The younger said.
Once the soldiers are tied together the young hero's discuss who and what they are.
"So we're a team?" Robin asked Jester.
"Yup." The clown nodded. "Though were not technically in the League, was more of their spies. You know, watch and report to HQ, sort of thing."
The martian nodded and continued for him. "The 5 of us and Superboy."
"Then this must be his." The younger pulled out a torn piece of clothing he had found earlier that day with the symbol of 'S' on it.
"Yes!" The martian said taking the piece. "Did you see him?"
Artemis then speaks up. "I think we did." Looking at KF for confirmation.
"Feral boy? Some teammate." The redhead scoffed. "He attacked us."
"He didn't know who we are." The blonde said. "I don't know who we are."
"Now that I find interesting." All eyes are on Jester as he is in deep thought. "You said he attacked you because he didn't know who you were, right? But he didn't with me when I first saw him. He just acted like some curious kitten. And I could have sworn I saw recognition in his eyes." When he gets blank looks he sighs in frustration in their lack to keep up. "What I'm saying is why did he attack you guys and not me?"
"Maybe he thinks you're cute?" KF suggested. The clown rolls his eyes at his response.
"You must be really important to him," MM speaks up. "Or some sort of bond you two shared that only made him remember only you."
This new information causes Robin to cross his arms and eyed his brother with a frown. "He your boyfriend?" He accused with a displeased tone.
Jester's bleached face turns a good shade of red at the accusation. "What!? No!" He waved his hands stuttering out the next words "Well, at least I think he's not. Maybe he is? Aghh! I don't know!" He cried gripping his hair in frustration. "This would be so much easier If our memories weren't jacked."
"Well what I can remember is Batman ordering radio silence," Robin said. "Our team must work for him."
"How do you know we don't work for my mentor?" The speedster said tapping on the symbol of a lighting bolt on his chest, a second later his suit changes from black to bright yellow. "Whoa. This is so cool!" He taps again.
The other press against their symbols but they don't change either. Jester presses his belt buckle with the symbol of a 'J' but nothing happens.
"We look ridiculous." Artemis cried out. "Quit touching yourself." She snapped at the redhead when he continued to change. "We need our memories back."
MM rubs her arms, an uneasy feeling evolving her. Would it be a good idea? She didn't want them to be uncomfortable. But it was the only way they were ever going to get answers. It was the only way to help Superboy. 'To help Superboy.' Her mind is set.
She places her hands on her head, her eyes glowing brightly.
A bright light flashes and 4 of the teens find themselves in a world of neon purple. Surrounding them are windows, each playing scenes from the past. They are left speechless.
"I brought you into my mind." The martian appears in a glowing orb as she explains to them. "To share what I've remembered so far. But I need your help. Together, Our broken memories can form a whole." She says the next line nervously. "If you open your minds to mine."
Jester's frame freezes.
The archers stare at her in disbelief. "You want to paw through our private thoughts?" She snapped.
The martian raises her hands in a calm motion. "I have no wish to intrude, but-"- -
"You need to hack our minds to grok what happened to us. Got it. Go." Said Robin
"My brain's all yours." The redhead said cockily. "Try not to let its brilliance overwhelm you."
"Or underwhelm you. Hey, why isn't anyone ever just whelmed?" questioned Robin.
Artemis however looks unsure. Wally stands beside her and takes her, encouraging her with a grin. Letting her know it was all right.
She gives in. "The last 6 months only, and only what you need."
That left one.
All eyes are on Jester waiting for his answer. The clown's body is completely stiff, his jaw clenched tightly, and his eyes showing hints of panic.
A gloved hand slipping into his snaps the teen out of the dead trance and whips his head to Robin who spoke up softly. "I know, but we won't get anywhere if we don't have everyones. We won't see anything but the last six months."
Jester then looks at the martian who is eyeing him with reassurance. "Just six months and nothing else. I promise."
Gulping he closes his eyes. Breathing deeply and exhaling. He had to stay calm. He opens and nods, granting permission to enter his mind.
With that set, the martian closes her eyes and gets to work. Raising her hand hand-like figures reach out to the teens and grasping their heads.
They each begin to remember.
Robin.
"The watchtower detected an immense power surge in the bialyan desert." He can see Batman addressing their mission as he points to a map. "Spectral analysis revealed elements in-terrestrial in origin." He can spot the team beside him. Batman continues "Find out what happened at that site, what landed there. Bialya is a rogue state ruled by Queen Bee, And not a member of the League's U.N. Charter. All communications are subject to interception. Maintain radio silence at all times."
In the next scene, he finds himself looking through his scope to find anyone hiding behind the sandy mountains.
"You'll land in Kourak on Bialya's border, two clicks from the hot zone."
"All clear." He gives the all-clear. Superboy can be seen carrying a heavy machine on his back.
Wally.
"The Bialyans control the site." He hears Artemis say as they creep over the edge of a sandy hill, looking down at a tent surrounded by soldiers.
"Set up here." A new voice comes in. Superboy places the machine down pressing a button to turn it on.
Artemis.
"We'll be up and running in no time." She finds Robin working the machine.
"Jackpot!" KF cheered. "The site's lousy with zeta beam radiation."
"Detecting non-terrestrial trace elements from the tent." Robin suddenly points out.
"Oh, boy," Jester said coming to stand beside Superboy. "Looks like E.T's phoning home."
"I'll check it out in camouflage mode," MM suggested.
Once again the voice comes in. "Good idea. Go."
Jester.
He sees himself facing the martian and scowling. "You better not get caught otherwise Im taking back all the nail products I gave you." He warned her.
She giggles before replying. "Don't worry, I won't."
MM
She sees Superboy and Jester standing in front of her "Careful." The clone tells her.
"And maintain telepathic contact." She turns to find a dark-skinned male with black tattoos on his arms and gills along side his neck.
"I will, Aqualad." She tells them.
All gasp and their eyes snap open. "Aqualad!"
"Where is he? What happened next?" Robin demanded.
"I don't know! That's the last thing I-we remember." MM says.
Noticing that their hands are still linked the blonde snatches it back. The speedster scratches his head to prevent looking embarrassed."Ehh. We landed 24 hours ago. If Kaldur been wandering the desert that long, well, That's not good for a guy with gills."
"Now that I know to look for him." The younger accessing the holographic map from his wrist. A dot showing what they were looking for, "He's close! But he's not moving."
"A true fish out of water." All eyes are on the clown when the comment slipped out.
"Not good?" He says with a nervous grin.
They finally manage to find the Atlantean not too far away from them lying unconscious and muttering in a language the others couldn't understand.
"I can't restore his memories in this condition," MM said resting Aqualad's head on her lap to comfort him.
"We can see why. He's basically parched. Arg! If only we had brought a bottle of water or something!" He slams his fist against his pants in frustration when he feels something big in his pocket. Reaching in he pulls out a giant water bottle. How did he not notice this before? "Huh, how about that?"
He pops open the bottle and brings it to the teen's mouth helping him drink. Thinking that it's not enough he rips a piece of his turtleneck off and drenches it then pressing the wet cloth on the teen's gills. It calms him but only a little. "That'll keep him hanging but not for long."
"He needs immediate rehydration. Call the bioship." Robin tells the martian.
"It's out of range, but you can get him there fast." She said to KF.
The redhead shakes his head. "He's too heavy, and I'm too low on fuel. Right now, I couldn't even carry her." He pointed to Artemis.
"Why not just levitate him back?" The blonde asked.
"I can't." MM lowered the teen back on the ground. "I have to find Superboy. 6 months ago, he didn't exist. He has no memories, just animal impulse. I'm the only one who can help him."
"If you're going then I'm going," Jester speaks out. "You're going to need backup if anything fishy comes up."
She nods at his offer. Glad to have some help.
"Superboy's indestructible." KF tried to protest. "Just ask those tanks. It's Aqualad who needs your help. Like, now."
Before she can have a say a sharp sting explodes in her mind. Grunting she holds her head as the images of Superboy strapped and being electrified pop into her mind. "No!" She cried out in alarm. "Superboys in pain! We can't wait!" She extends her hand to Jester. "We have to hurry!" The clown clings onto her side and blasts off to the sky.
They hear the shouts Robins disrespect to them "We still don't know what erased our memories! It could happen again!"
But they are already too far ahead to turn back now.
They finally make it to the tent keeping the clone prisoner, the outside surrounded by armed soldiers. MM drops off the teen not too far but getting a good view at the tent. "I have to go camouflage, sorry but I have to leave you here. Ill signal you for help if it gets out of control." She tells him.
"Got it."
With that said she flies into the tent, sneaking her way in.
Inside a giant, metal, sphere can be seen rotating, and shouts of pain coming from the strapped clone. Bolts of electricity piercing through his body with so much intensity.
She had to act fast.
Shoving the men in lab coats out of the control panel she shuts off the shocks of waves, instantly the clone's body goes limp from exhaustion.
"Well." She gasps at the new voice and looks behind her. Standing there in the shadow is a hooded figure with deathly pale skin. "Someone's certainly a glutton for punishment." A hint of a smirk can be seen. "Psimon says." He pulls his hood down revealing a see-through glass on his head giving a good view of his brain. "Forget." Waves radiating off from it.
MM has no time to react when her vision is gone in a flash of white.
When she opens them her world is surrounded by objects from her memories as she floats midair.
"That's it." She snaps her head back expecting to find the stranger but is blinded by a glowing light. "Forget like before." The glow then begins to consume her.
"Before."
Flash.
" I'm in." She says as she enters the tent. In front of her are a group of scientist huddled around the metal sphere jotting down data.
"Good, but tread carefully. Camouflage is not invisible." Aqualad's voice comes through the link."
She descends down to get a better look. The sphere starts to rotate wickedly."They're testing something." She then feels pain radiating of the sphere. "But it's alive. In pain!" She extends her arm to it. "Hello? Can you hear me?"
"I can." The new voice snaps her attention away and searches frantically for the source. "And an open mind is a dangerous thing."
"Someone's hacked our link!" She cried out.
Finally, she spots a lone figure, his face covered beneath his hood making it impossible to identify. "Psimon can't see you. Psimon can't catch you. But Psimon can make you all." He yanks back his hood. "Forget!"
In that word, the team doubled over screaming as a stinging sensation erupts in their brains. They clutch their heads in tight grips, eyes shut, and shaking their heads to get rid of the pain but are unsuccessful. In their zombie-like state, they wander off in a different direction which is how they all got separated in the first place.
The light around her began to destroy her mind, she was going to forget everything! Not this time!
"No." With great willpower, she blasts the light away. "I won't let it happen again."
Morphing before her eyes a giant head of Psimon emerges. "Not really your call, little girl." His head powers a dark power before sending a beam and knocking her back.
Back outside Jester taps his foot impatiently against the sandy blanket. MM has been in there for a long time now and only the clown could anticipate what might have happened.
"Ugh. Where is she?" He paces. He takes a glance at the tent and begins to get the idea to just go in himself. He shakes his head. "No. She said stay here and wait for her call." He tells himself. He glances again. His figgers wiggling anxiously at the thought that something must have gone wrong. "Ok, ok. I'll just wait 10 minutes. If I don't hear a peep from her I'm going in." He tells himself nodding.
1 minute and 10 seconds pass.
"Screw it." He reaches into his utility and takes a handful of smoke bombs and flinging them toward the soldier's feet, black smoke emerging into the air. The men caught and try to navigate their way through the thick fog. No one sees the green-head slipping inside the tent.
Once inside he stops at the scene before him. Lab workers trying to get the attention of an alien being who was staring at something up above and Superboy unconscious with his wrist strapped tightly. "What kind of party is this?"
Just then every object in the room begins to levitate.
At that moment Superboy regains consciousness eyeing the floating objects when he catches something. His vision turns to thermal and clearly shows a figure in middle. His eyes search around when they land on someone else. His vision returning to normal revealing Psimon.
Anger starts to stir his insides. The heart monitor on the screens starts to accelerate. The sphere begins to rotate so intensely that it breaks off of its holds and rolls causing the workers and Jester to hop out of the way. The sphere collides against where the clone was being held breaking him free. He jumps at Psimon but is thrown back by a force shield throwing him back.
He skids to stop when his hand makes contact with her thigh and he finds himself beside the Martian mind with her.
MM looks alarmed at the new intruder but relaxes when she realizes who it is. "You're here!" She cries smiling.
Psimon chuckles at this. "You sound so relieved. Is that mindless creature supposed to save your mind?" He mocks
"No." She grabs his head in her head-turning him to face her. "I save him."
The world is filled with flashes and images of the clone's memories.
Waking up inside his capsule and meeting those pairs of green/blue-eyes for the first time.
Said being with eyes throwing bat to the side-eyeing him with determination. "I'm not going to fight you."
The being strapped inside one of the tubes as he greets him with a wide smile. "Im Jester."
Jester was his name.
He and Jester touching foreheads together for the first time in the living room of the cave.
Jester eyeing him with intense anger after the mixup with MT. "If you would just give her the chance to prove herself worthy, you'd be surprised that she could someday save that stupid head of yours!"
"Yours I like, it brings out your eyes." he hears himself say to the other the night they were in Santa Prisca. Jester giggling and bumping his cheek with his knuckle. "Oh, you flatter."
Jester talking off Superman when he had first met the clone. "Are you freaking serious, right now? Your walking away from the one person that needs you the most. That's wrong and you know it."
The day he tried to ask Superman for his help only to be rejected. Jester's eyes are full of concern. "It'll get better in the end. You'll see."
"I don't need help from anybody!" He and Jester in the middle of the school's hallway the clone screaming in anger. "Not from the League. Not from Canary. AND ESPECIALLY NOT FROM YOU!"
The soft-touch of Jester's hand on his cheek. "Sometimes, even the strongest need help."
Jester Introducing him to the wonders of a firefly display. Their hands fitting together perfectly.
Jester snuggling against his back at the clone carried him piggyback to the kitchen when the clown's feet hurt from roller blading.
Jester with his positive attitude.
His caring for others.
He laughs at his own corny jokes.
His eyes were full of life.
His smile.
God.
His smiles are what Superboy liked the most.
He remembers the mission he was assigned. Psimon erasing their memories
Then he is back.
The martian releases his face. Superboy stared blankly for a second before offering a smirk to her. "Kick his butt." That is all he says before disappearing from her mind.
Back into the real world, the clone snaps his head to the entrance of the tent where soldiers fled inside only to be sideswiped by the metal sphere. The clone eyes it up and down with a raised brow and confusion. "Uh, thanks?"
Another group runs in but don't make it far due to Jester jumping in. Kicking and punching the men and disassembling them from their guns. Blocking, dodging, and leaping to avoid getting hit.
He spots blue-eyes on him and he smiles brightly. "Well, hello Hotstuff!" He swings his bat catching one soldier on the side of his head. "A little help would be lovely." Before charging at another group.
He gladly joins in.
After knocking off a few more together both teens look back to the still forms of MM and Psimon. What they are met with are floating lab men. Suddenly a strong gust of wind begins to spiral around all of them. The wind is so strong that all are lifted away into the air.
Superboy stands his ground but Jester struggles to hang on until he starts to lift up. The clone grabs his wrist to keep him from flying away. He looks back to the spot where MM sure would be. The way things were turning out she needed help. But he wouldn't make it in time with the wind holding both of them back.
"Let me go."
Superboy snaps at him with an 'Are you out of your mind' expression. But Jester gives him a look of reassurance. "It's ok. I'll be fine. Being swept away in a deadly twister is not the most serious thing I've been through. You need to help her." He places his hand on top of his squeezing it. "Let go."
He hesitates for a second. Taking a breath. Closing his eyes. And let's go.
His eyes don't leave the clown until he finally swept away from view. Now he had a mission to do.
He leaps into the sanding spiral surrounding the two still figures. Landing beside the martian he grabs hold of her arm and is instantly back inside her mind. "Megan!"
She looks relieved to see him. Surrounding them they are inside her protective bubble, evolved around it is the dark blasts of Psimon beams. She clearly looks defeated. "He's too strong." She sounded ready to fail but the clone would not let that happen.
He squeezes her arm. "You're strong, and I'm stubborn." His voice is full of encouragement. He takes her hand and lifting them up. "Together."
Catching on what he was suggesting she nods. "Together."
They both turn back to Psimon, hands clenching another. Around them, MM's power begins to increase. She glared intensely at the psychic. "Get out of my HEAD!" She screams. Just then a wave of energy blasts through the dark physics beams and striking him.
Psimon screams in agony as he is shattered from her mind and into reality and is swept away by the winds.
The winds accelerate uncontrollably and increasing in size it tears the tent to shreds.
MM, exhausted from her mind use, classes back, the clone catching her and holding her steady as she tries to shake off the dizziness. They look around them as the twister halts in a bang. Machines from the lab plummet to the ground and everything stills.
It was over.
No. It wasn't Superboy thought.
He leaves the Martian's side with only one thing on his mind. Finding Jester.
He runs ahead searing frantically for mad teen even trying to locate his unique heartbeat. He stops suddenly when he spots bright-green and rushing to it.
He kneels beside Jester. The thin teen laid on his back unconscious from the intensity of the twister's strength. Carefully he gathers his thin frame into his arms. Oh how easy it would be to snap him in half.
He pats the clown's cheek to get some sort of reaction and sure enough, green/blue gems blink open.
And for the first time since their time in Baliya a smile forms on the clones. "Hey."
It takes a minute for the clown to register what was happening. "Hey to you, too." He smiles, although this was a bit more tired smile. "Great to have you back, sweetness." He then notices the lack of a shirt. "And half-naked too, apparently. Not that I'm complaining." He said teasingly with a giggle.
Superboy finds himself chuckling. Because it was due to the fact that he was alright and still behaving his crazy self. He was relieved. He hated the idea of Jester being erased completely from his mind.
Without thinking he cups the clown's face instantly silencing him up and looking at him with big eyes. Neither of them knowing what was going on. They hold gazes and find themselves leaning their faces closer until…
A beeping sound catches their attention causing them to withdraw to find the spherical machine standing before them like a lost puppy.
Superboy stares at it before looking at Jester and asking. "Can I keep it?"
QURAC. September 5. 2:32 am
Inside the bioship, the teens are at work tending to a still injured Atlantean when MM's cheerful voice comes through the link. "Hey Everybody. I've got Superboy. He's back to normal, and we're on our way."
With the martian, she carries Superboy on one side while Jester on the other as they fly their way back to the others.
Aqualad suddenly springs upward from his laid position alarmed by the voice in his head. "Who are you, and how did you get inside my head?" He demanded. The blonde trying to push him back down.
"Hello, Megan. Aqualad's memories! I knew I forgot something."
"Aw, man." KF wined. "Me, too. I didn't get a souvenir from the mission." He pouts of not having anything to take back to the cave.
"Don't worry." The martian says with a smirk and looking behind her to see the metal sphere rolling and following them.
"Got the souvenir thing covered."
Ok, I may have kinda lost the chapter for the Episode 'Downtime' but luckily I still have the other files saved.