Mount Justice || December 31, 07:16 EST||
Celestial couldn't help but feel worried about Kitsune's well-being. It's unusual for her not to call her or any of them after the party. Kitsune didn't come home as well when the party is ended.
"We have a reason to feel proud of yesterday's victories." It snapped out Celestial's thoughts. "But one thing has not changed."
"Somehow, the bad guys are still getting inside intel about us." Robin pointed and glancing at the scarlet-haired girl worriedly.
"Yeah, but at least we know none of us were the mole." Kid Flash commented and Saber pursed his lips.
"You-" Saber was cut off by the Dark Knight.
"That's correct. The mole was Red Arrow." He revealed the real mole inside of the Team and showed them Red Arrow's picture.
"Roy?" Robin muttered in surprise.
"No way!" Kid Flash yelled.
"Batman, that cannot be. He was Green Arrow protégé." Aqualad denied the idea of Red Arrow being the mole. "We have all known him for years."
"Unfortunately..." Red Tornado spoke up. "The Roy Harper we have known for the last three years... is another Project Cadmus-"
"Clone." Saber finished the sentence and everyone are looking at him. "I always denied Roy being a clone despite his aura is different when we grew up." He muttered softly and clenching his hands.
"We've learned the real Speedy was abducted and replaced... immediately after becoming Green Arrow's sidekick." Batman spoke up. "The clone was pre-programmed with a drive to join the Justice League. Which is why he was so angry over any delays to his admission... and why he refused to join the Team. This Roy Harper had no idea he was a clone or a traitor. And his subconscious programming drove him to become League-worthy. So he struck out on his own as Red Arrow. When he was finally admitted, his secondary programming kicked in... and he attempted to betray the League to Vandal Savage." Saber masked his emotions and observing them closely. "Fortunately, I had already deduced Red Arrow was a clone. We were prepared."
It makes Saber wonder how they manage to find out Roy is the clone and the last part has more truth behind his betrayal. "Savage was subdued..." Red Tornado spoke up. "But Red Arrow escaped. He is now a fugitive, armed and dangerous."
Superboy rubs his neck nervously. "If you guys hadn't rescued me from Cadmus..." He muttered.
"What happened to the real Roy?" Saber asked them curiously. He's curious to find out the real Roy besides the fact their explanation doesn't make sense. How did Batman found about Roy being a mole before him, his actions are suspicious?
"We don't know. He isn't at Cadmus." Batman answered. "We have to face the possibility that the real Roy Harper is dead."
Celestial holds Robin and Saber's hand to squeeze it gently. "The clone Roy. The Team will find him." Aqualad declared and wondering where Kitsune is.
"Negative. Red Arrow's a member of the Justice League now. Leave him to us." Batman answered.
"Where's Kitsune? We haven't seen her last night after the party or called us." Angel asked them.
"Kitsune is-" He was cut off by the call and listens to it before ended up. "I'm needed on the Watchtower. Tornado, stay with the kids." He left to go to the Watchtower.
Angel frowned as Artemis hug her close. All of them couldn't believe Red Arrow is a clone. "Clone or no clone... Red Arrow was one of us. We will go after him and Kitsune." Aqualad declared to find them.
Saber noticed Red Tornado is plotting against the Atlantean and about to put on his neck. He immediately grabs his metal hand to stop him and shutting himself down.
"Saber what did you do?" Zatanna asked him with a surprised look on her face.
"He's planning to put something on Aqualad's neck and he shut himself down." Saber explained calmly.
"Do you have any spell to get into his memories despite he's an android?" Celestial asks him worriedly. "Saber, they're hiding something about Aaliyah."
"Unfortunately not, Rubes." He shook his head slightly. "Darn it! If I tell you guys the real mole, this won't happen."
"You knew the real mole while we're pointing each other's finger, Arthur!?" Kid Flash asked with a disbelief look on his face.
"Look, I'll explain later." He gives them a look. "There's something off about them and I'm not the only one who can sense the low level of magic in here."
"Saber is right." Zatanna nodded her head. "I can feel it too and gives me a bit of a headache."
"Batman. He called us kids. He never does that." Robin pointed out.
Kid Flash sees something from Red Tornado's hand. "Look." He showed him the bio-tech chips. "One of those bio-tech chips we confiscated off Cheshire."
"Something is not right." Aqualad commented and shook his head. "Robin, Kid, Zatanna, Celestial and Rocket, see if you can get Tornado back online. The rest with me to find Ro... Red Arrow and Kitsune." He gives them their orders before they find Kitsune and Red Arrow.
"The problem's hardware, not software." Robin muttered as he examined Tornado's condition. "But where do we start?"
Zatanna looked up to the ceiling. "I have a thought." She commented. "I remember Tornado creates a human android."
"It wouldn't be a problem for you isn't it, Robin?" Celestial asked her boyfriend.
"Not a big problem for me, my young maiden." He winks and Kid Flash immediately pulls her away from him.
"No more cheesy romance, Robin." He shook his head and hugs Celestial. "My baby sis-"
"Can we please focus on the task?" Celestial pleads and sighing heavily. "Zatanna, can you and Rocket get that android please?"
"Yeah, sure." Both girls go up to the ceiling as it opened for them.
They placed down both androids on the table as Robin begins to transfer Tornado's memories to the new human android. "Download in progress."
"So Tornado built this android to party?" Rocket asks with a skeptical look on her face.
"Not how he'd put it, but, yeah, more or less." Zatanna answered and smiles nervously.
"All Tornado ever wanted is to become a human." Celestial commented with an understanding look on her face.
"Recognize, Black Canary, 1-3." The computer announced as Black Canary showed up.
"Hey, guys." Black Canary greeted them as Celestial silently summons Oichi as she transforms into a small snake. "Wanted to check-in, see how you're handling the..." Her eyes widened in shock and turned into anger. "What are you doing to Red?" She asked in anger.
"It's not how it-" Kid Flash was cut off by Celestial.
"Oichi, now!" She throws her right arm as Oichi flies off and landed on Black Canary's head.
"Nothing personal here, Canary." Oichi reverts herself back and looking at her eyes to froze Canary. "Time to put you to sleep." She punches her stomach hard to knock Black Canary coldly.
"What the heck, Celestial!? You just attack Canary!" Rocket exclaimed with a disbelief look on her face.
"She's just like Batman." Celestial explained calmly. "The moment Canary steps in, she's lifeless and I can sense magic on her neck."
"You did a great job, Celestial." Red Tornado complimented her quick thinking. "Canary is the least of our problems. We must abandon the cave."
"He's right." Oichi agreed and flipping her green hair. "That magic is a bit familiar to me and I can't remember what it is."
Celestial pursed her lips and shook her head. "Sphere, give us a lift, please? Someone might notice of Canary's absence."
"Recognize Icon, 2-0. Doctor Fate, 1-7. Captain Marvel, 1-5." The computer announced and everyone immediately jumps in the ride as they leave the cave.
"Stay off your radios. Let the super-cycle track Superboy." Red Tornado ordered them. "Instruct her to mask all signals. We cannot allow the League to track us."
Celestial and Oichi are riding on Sora's back since there isn't enough space to seat on the super-cycle.
"Right. Of course." Kid Flash stares at the human android. "Just one question. Why is the Justice League after us!?" He exclaimed with a disbelief look on his face.
"Logs indicate Red Arrow zeta'd to the Hall from the Watchtower." Artemis explained. "He could be anywhere by now."
"So far we have zero leads about Kitsune." Angel muttered sadly and her ears bend down in sorrow.
"We will find them, Angel." Saber assured her.
"After Roy went solo, he installed equipment caches in several major cities." Aqualad explained and looking at Saber. "I'm sure you know some places, Saber."
"Yes, and one of them is here." Saber nodded his head. "You and I are going to visit him whereas the rest of you stay here."
Saber and Aqualad go inside of the building as the Atlantean breaks the door. Red Arrow is pointing his arrow at them. "We have not come to harm or apprehend you. But the Team requires answers." Aqualad spoke gently as they walk slowly towards him.
"Me first." Red Arrow spoke up and didn't lower his guard down. "Tell me something you two haven't told anyone else. Tell me who broke your heart, Aqualad. Tell me how you're the only one alive triplet whereas the two died."
Aqualad sighs softly. "Tula. The girl I loved chose my best friend Garth over me. However, I fell in love with Aaliyah deeper. While my best friend on the surface world aims an arrow at my chest."
Saber wasn't expecting Aqualad's love for Kitsune goes deep the moment she appeared in his life. He shook his head and going to answer his questions. "Luna and Freya were killed by Klarion and absorbing their magic." Closing his eyes and sighs softly. "I only survived because my two sisters sacrificed their lives to save my brother and I."
Red Arrow lowered his bow and arrow at them. They're not been brainwashed like the League.
"We were told you were the mole." Aqualad explained to Red Arrow the whole situation back in the cave. "But we have reason to doubt."
"Forget doubt. You knew I was the mole, Saber." The red archer is looking at the blond boy. "How did you know I was the mole? Did you also know that-"
"I denied the first assumption of you being the clone." Saber explained softly and sighs. "No matter how much your aura tells me. The reason why I know it's because you froze often whenever we encounter villains, they said something to make you gone blank."
"How did you know I was the mole?" He questioned him.
"Before my brother became the next host, he told me your future as I began to look for clues until I was too late." Saber closes his eyes and clenching his hands.
"That future that I'll betray you guys..." He whispered and didn't doubt Knight's vision is coming true.
Knight has the ability to see the past, present and future. Before he became Nabu's next host, he gave Saber a mission to investigate Red Arrow before it came late. Saber failed to free him from their grasp the moment he gathered enough information.
"Batman and Tornado said you're a Cadmus clone. Like me." Superboy commented and knowing he isn't alone being a clone.
Red Arrow sighs heavily. "What Saber said is right. I was a sleeper agent, pre-programmed to infiltrate the League. I think Sportsmaster was my handler." He explained. "He had a key-phrase, Broken Arrow... that could shut me down. Put me in a hypnotic state to steal secrets for his superiors... or incorporate further programming. I'd then carry out all orders subconsciously... completely unaware of what drove me. I think one of those orders was to focus suspicion on the six of you." He's looking at Superboy, Angel, Artemis and Miss Martian. "I'm sorry."
"How did Batman discover this and prevent you from betraying the League?" Aqualad asked him curiously.
"He lied because he wanted us to turn our back against him." Saber answered with a grim look on his face. "What happened to Kitsune?"
"Aaliyah... she..." Red Arrow gritted his teeth and clenching his hands. "Stayed behind to fight Lust and the other boy to let me escape from their grasps."
"They're having an alliance with them!?" Angel exclaimed with a surprised look on her face. "She can't battle them by herself! Especially those two are dark wizards!"
"Where is she, Red Arrow?" Artemis asks with a worried look on her face.
"I don't know." Red Arrow answered truthfully. "She pushed me before I could even hold her."
Angel whimpered and Saber comforts the young girl.
"The entire League is under the complete mental domination of Vandal Savage." Red Tornado explains everything about the League. "Red Arrow seems to have been his means. His method was something Savage referred to as Starro-tech... an alien bio-organism infused with nanotechnology and magic. It shuts down the mind's autonomy... allowing Savage to reprogram the individual to suit his needs. Even my inorganic brain was not immune. But the process requires 0.16 nanoseconds to integrate with its host's nervous system. That delay allowed me to create an internal subprogram... which would disconnect my power cells if I attempted to infect another person." Celestial frowned and thanking Saber for stopping him to brainwash Aqualad. "Fortunately, the Starro-tech is body-specific, as John Smith, I am now free of outside control."
"This Starro-tech..." Robin spoke up. "It worked on super-powered humans, four flavors of alien, an android... even Doctor Fate, defeating all of you without a fight?"
"Indeed." Red Tornado answered in a grim tone. "A remarkable achievement. One not easily countered."
"That explains why Zatanna, Angel, Saber and I can manage to sense that magic presence." Celestial spoke up and gulps nervously. "What about Kitsune? Is she alright?"
"After she let Red Arrow escape from our grasps, Kitsune is hiding somewhere in the Watchtower." Red Tornado answered and Celestial grips Sora's feather tightly. "Kitsune is strong but I fear for her safety."
"What can you tell us about this Lust, Celestial?" Rocket asked her curiously.
"Apart from her being eight Queen of Purgatory, she happened to be Hades', right-hand woman." Celestia answered with a grim look on her face. "Her magic is Shadow God Slayer. I don't know much about her but apparently, Lust fought Kitsune back in Tenroujima."
"She wanted to have revenge for defeating her." Zatanna commented and the scarlet-haired girl nodded her head. "What about the other guy? Is his name actually David?"
"He thinks I killed one of the Mendez clan so I can absorb crystal make magic and become a curse." She sighs softly and Oichi comfort her mistress. "I nearly died after I saved my mentor, Lola from the bullet. She didn't want me to die so Lola used the forbidden spell that I can heal in exchange to have this curse."
"How did you become a curse?" Rocket asked curiously and tilting her head. "Unless you have a split disorder personality."
"No." She shook her head and gulps. "The more I use crystal magic powerful spell, my life span is going to short or worse die." Everyone excluding her spirits, Robin and Red Tornado gasps. "The only way to lift the curse is to challenge him. To prove him I won't use this magic for greediness."
"That guy revealed himself how he massacred his entire clan." Oichi growled in anger. "Once he defeated, he'll face the consequences."
Kid Flash is looking at Celestial worriedly before glancing at Robin. "Are you going to face him alone?"
"I have my spirits with me to help and defeat him." Celestial answered with a determined look on her face. She's tired of running away like a coward and needs to face the last Mendez clan traitor to defeat him once and for all.
Miss Martian pursed her lips before glancing at Red Arrow. "I'm sorry, but how is it that you are no longer enslaved?" She asked curiously and wondering how he frees himself from the chip.
"No Starro-tech, for starters." Red Arrow answered. "Just my Cadmus programming. And once I had satisfied its last parameter, my mind began to clear. I'm sure Savage planned to Starro-tech me... but he paused to bask and Kitsune helped me to escape."
"Until now... we don't even know where Kitsune is." Superboy pointed out and feels worried about her. "Angel, do you think one of Celestial spirits can track her?"
"It's hard to track her out, Superboy." Angel answered. "She can mask her presence and scent to prevent tracking. Including magic as well."
Miss Martian is looking at Red Arrow with a determined look on her face. "I promise, I can clean any residual programming from your mind."
"Miss Martian, are you in range?" She could hear Robin's thoughts.
"Here Robin." Miss Martian answered. "Linking both squads and de-camouflaging." She allowed them to get inside of her bio-ship.
"Great. Because we really need to compare notes."
All of them are regrouping apart from Kitsune is still missing. They exchange information from what they discovered. However, a certain scarlet-haired girl couldn't help but worrying her blonde girl mage friend. Celestial knows Kitsune is one of the powerful wizards but she can't take down by herself to the League and two dark rogue mages. The boy wonder noticed her worries towards Kitsune and squeezing her arms gently to know he's with her.
"Let's start with you, Saber. Since when did your brother have a vision about Red Arrow betraying us all?" Robin asked him curiously as none of them knew Knight has another ability to see the past, present and future or known as Seer.
"A long time now and he decided to keep it a secret for no one would know about it." Saber answered truthfully. "All he's saying the Shadow traitor will help his master to control all the heroes. He will break the young heroes apart as they're going to accuse which one is the traitor. Using a weapon to control each one of the heroes until his master revealed himself."
"How did you break down that Red Arrow is part of that vision?" Angel asked curiously.
"It took time for me to understand what he means until I realize his aura is different." He sighs heavily and looking at the red archer. "Your actions, memories and physical appearance are exactly the real one but you could never copy the original's aura. That's why I begin to search for clues to find out how is he going to betray all of us until you, Angel and Kitsune came." Both Fairy mages flinch in surprise.
"Does it involved us from Knight's vision?" Celestial asked weakly and he smiles.
"Only the part when you girls came out of the ceiling out of nowhere." Saber answered.
Oichi gasped and finally manage to remove the Starro-tech from Black Canary and Red Tornado's neck. "This dark magic is one of Zeref's spell!" She exclaimed and putting it on the metal platter. "No wonder I recognize this spell coming from Aaliyah's brainwash brother!"
"Ho-how!?" Angel yells and immediately growled in anger. "Lust... that vile woman! When I get my hands on her-"
"Woah! Calm yourself down kitty cat!" Rocket exclaimed and holding Angel down.
Oichi is rubbing her temple in annoyance and she didn't want this to happen. She and the other spirits have plans for their master's birthday but they need to postpone due to this Red Arrow's mess. "Hey! Start from the beginning! From what we gathered, all League's are under control by Vandal Savage's starro-tech. Did you or did you not been brainwash by it?" The Chinese Snake spirit asked curiously.
"No, but I was preprogrammed by Cadmus to betray you all. I put starro-tech in every League's back neck." Red Arrow answered truthfully.
"I see..." Oichi stares at the bio-tech in deep thought.
Kid Flash noticed her snake eyes glint as she has a plan to save them. "Um... mind telling us what you're planning now?"
"I know how to save them." Oichi declared and everyone blinks in surprise. "We know this thing is mixes up with magic, human, android and alien."
"Don't forget but also Atlantean like Aqualad." Saber pointed out and blinking his eyes. "What about it? You're going to make a cure bio-chip for them!"
The Chinese snake spirit nodded her head. "We need the expertise of magic, aliens, humans and androids here." Oichi answered bluntly. "My magic can help to nullify brainwashing and also brings mages like you, Angel and Kitsune to get immune."
"We also need Aquaman's wife, Kaldur." Saber pointed out and the Atlantean nodded his head in understanding. "She's expertise in magic as well and helps us to bring back your King senses."
"What about Dr Serling Roquette?" Robin suggested. "I'm sure she can help us."
"That leaves only alien left." Zatanna pointed out and staring at Superboy and Miss Martian.
"I can help as well." Saber volunteered to sure aliens from the brainwash. "It's my fault that I let it happened before I could take action."
"Hey, don't blame yourself for this, Saber." Celestial comforted him. "None of us predict this would happen to them."
"Little red is right!" Rocket exclaimed. "We're not fortune-tellers like your brother. Speaking of him, what if one of them knew about his secret ability?" She asked worriedly.
Saber smiles in reassurance seeing their dreadful look. "Before he became Doctor Fate, Knight asked me to sealed his seer powers including his memories using it. I can undo it unless the time is right to use."
Aqualad nodded his head in understanding and stared at them. "Team, we need to ask their help so Oichi can produce bio-chip to bring everyone back."
"No time to waste and we need to assume Kitsune is fighting them by herself." Celestial spoke up. "She's out there to protect us! We need to aid her fasts."
They split into groups to get the specific people to create a cure for the League and for themselves in case one of them tried to manipulate their minds. They vowed to save everyone and Kitsune as she's depended on them.