Justice League and its characters belong to Brandon Vietti and Greg Weisman
I only own my OC, Emma Miyazaki AKA Blue Jay (Who is not a Mary Sue)
Enjoy!
Blue Jay
Chapter 14: Humanity
Mount Justice
October 10, 16:58 EDT
Blue Jay's POV
Another day at the cave, another day of training under Black Canary.
All of us were sparring against each other as a way to showcase their own skills, while also learning from each other as a way to see how we each could improve.
Well, almost all of us.
Wally sat in an armchair outside the circle and have put Captain Marvel into indentured servitude since his right arm was in a cast after it had been broken during the Team's altercation with the Injustice League a few weeks ago.
You know sometimes I wonder how things could've been if I had a normal life.
I don't need to wake up being tired or miss out the important things like spending time with my family and be with my school friends.
But now that I think about it, if I never became Blue Jay and have the chance to meet Dick.
I quickly snapped out of my thoughts to dodge Conner's fist and did a flip to move out the way.
Me, Robin, Artemis, Superboy, Aqualad and Miss Martian stopped sparring when Black Canary walked into the main cave.
"Good work, everyone."Black Canary said as she neared the training circle. "In fact, it's been a very productive week."
"Yeah."Artemis snarled. "For everyone except Kid Malingerer."
I covered my mouth to lower my laughter as Wally glared at Artemis.
"Hey!"Wally argued as he sat up in his chair and waved his arm around. "Arm broken in combat against the Injustice League here!"
In response to his antics, Black Canary chuckled while shaking her head.
"I've really enjoyed being your, uh...den mother this week."Black Canary admitted.
Suddenly the Zeta tube turned on which brought our attention over to the transport system.
"Recognised: Zatara: 1-1."the computer announced.
The magician stepped calmly out of the Zeta tube before walking over to the small control panel and tapping a few keys.
"Access Granted: Zatanna Zatara A-0-3."the computer stated. "Authorisation: Zatara 1-1."
A young black haired girl stepped out, dressed in some sort of school uniform and, judging from her name, was Zatara's daughter.
"Zatanna. This is the Team."Zatara introduced. "Team, my daughter, Zatanna."
"Hi."M'gann greeted as she came forward. "I'm-"
"Robin!"Robin interrupted enthusiastically before clearing his throat. "I mean, I'm Robin. She's M'gann. That's Wally, Artemis, Kaldur, Conner and Blue Jay."
"Welcome come to the Cave."Kaldur complemented.
Zatanna smiled. "Thanks."
"So, uh, are you joining the team?"Robin asked with a hint of excitement.
I frowned at Robin a little as I suddenly felt my anger boiling inside.
"Let's not get ahead of ourselves."Zatara admitted. "This is strictly a visit. Though I am sorry we missed the training. It's something from which Zatanna could benefit."
"Do you get the impression...we're still on probation with Zatara?"M'gann asked.
"Not just Zatara."Conner replied.
"Then why's Marvel still hanging around?"I questioned. "We have Black Canary as our den mother."
"Because we like having him around, babe."Wally declared with a flirty smirk.
I rolled my eyes as Artemis spoke to Wally.
"You like having him around...because he waits on you hand and foot."Artemis replied.
"And your point is?"Kid Flash asked.
"It almost makes one nostalgic...for Red Tornado's tenure as our supervisor."Aqualad exclaimed.
"Yeah."Robin scoffed. "At least he trusted us."
"If you ignore the fact...we shouldn't have trusted him."Conner snarled."He was a traitor. That machine nearly got M'...All of us killed!"
"Are you guys having a psychic conversation?"Zatanna asked. "Cause I can't decide if that's cool or really rude?"
"Alright, fine."Conner responded with a small frown. "We were talking about Tornado. It's been weeks since his attack and the League hasn't told us anything."
"The League is searching for Tornado as well as the other androids that invaded the cave and their creator, T.O. Morrow."Black Canary declared. "Batman's made tracking them down our highest priority."
"But what've you found?"I asked with my arms folded.
"None of the above!"Robin added.
"Not yet."Black Canary corrected. "But Tornado is Justice League. The Team is not to pursue this."
"Why don't you take Zatanna on a, uh, tour of the Cave?"Zatara started and trailed off.
All of us realized that the man's daughter was no longer standing with us.
"You're giving a tour!"Captain Marvel remarked, returning to the main cave with Wally's plate of nachos. "Cool!"
"Actually."Conner interrupted and walked next to the older hero. "I was hoping you'd take Wolf outside. He needs the exercise. We'll join you in a few."
"Sure, sure. I- I can do that."Captain Marvel commented and looked at Wolf. "Come on, Wolf."
Captain Marvel took off towards the back door of the Cave.
The seven of us and Zatanna quietly walked into the kitchen area of the Mountain.
I frowned a bit more when Zatanna jogged up to Robin's side causing me to look down for a moment.
"We're not really taking a tour, are we?"Zatanna asked.
We all stopped walking and Conner looked at Zatanna.
"No."Conner answered. "We're hunting down that robot."
"Yes, we are."Aqualad agreed.
"Oh, wow."Zatanna remarked. "Out loud and everything."
"What about New Girl?"Artemis asked.
"Well, Zatara didn't say-"I started.
"I'm sure she won't tell."Robin responded quickly.
"I can't tell."Zatanna teased. "Not if you kidnap me."
Artemis smirked. "Oh, she's going to fit in great."
"Yeah...really great."I agreed with a small smile.
I was starting to get jealous at the way that Dick was acting around Zatanna.
He never seemed to act that way before with another girl before.
Well, last time he acted like that was when he was around our classmate from History Class, Lori Elton and only because they were partners for the American Civil War project.
The eight of us headed into the Bio-Ship and sat down in our seats.
The camouflaged Bio-Ship flew over the heavily wooded area outside Mount Justice and took off as Black Canary's voice comes through the comm set.
"M'gann, the Bio-Ship wasn't authorized for departure."Black Canary reminded.
"We're kidnapping Zatanna!"M'gann declared brightly. "To, uh, show her Happy Harbor. Be back soon!"
"Uh, roger that."Black Canary answered. "Have fun."
I smiled at M'gann for her quick thinking as Kid Flash began to speak up.
"Where are we going?"Kid Flash asked.
"Batman is the world's greatest detective."Robin replied. "He's searched for Tornado and Morrow in every logical place. If we're gonna do better we need an illogical solution."
"What we need."I added as I turned around so I was able to face KF with a smirk. "Is a truly dumb idea."
Everyone followed my gaze to look at Kid Flash and he blinked for a few seconds before he grinned.
"As a matter of fact..."Kid Flash started in a confident tone.
Belle Reve
October 10th, 18:35 CDT
Superboy stood in front of a metal table while an elderly man with red hair stood across from us.
Dr Ivo knew where Morrow was hiding, now all we had to do was get it out of him.
"Warden Strange owed us a favor for stopping last month's prison break."Miss M informed. "He's given us five minutes with you."
"Spill Ivo!"Superboy snapped. "How do we find T. O. Morrow and his Reds?"
"Now, why in the world would I know how to find Morrow?"Ivo questioned lazily as he leans back in his chair.
"Because and a truly dumb idea."Kid Flash complemented. "You're Morrow's biggest competitor in the evil android game. Who better to keep track of what he's up to and where?"
"Ah. I see your point. So let me rephrase."Dr Ivo replied as he leaned forward and looked at Miss M in the eyes. "Why in the world would I tell you how to find Morrow?"
"He knows."Aqualad said and looked at Miss Martian. "Do what you must."
Miss Martian's eyes began to glow green, but in response, Dr Ivo only laughed.
"Oh, please."Dr Ivo laughed. "As if I've never faced a telepath before."
"Trulb tuo S'worrom eurt noitacol!"Zatanna chanted.
Ivo's face suddenly turned blank and he stared straight ahead, speaking in a sort of monotone voice.
"Morrow's in a secret underground base beneath Yellowstone National Park 100 meters South of Old Faithful."Dr Ivo admitted.
As soon as Ivo's admission left his mouth, the old inventor's eyes cleared again and he looked shocked, surprised that he had been coerced into speaking what he knew the way he did.
I glanced at Zatanna in complete amazement.
Me or the Team haven't seen Zatanna in action so far, but I was beginning to become glad that Zatara's daughter had decided to be 'kidnapped' today.
"Wait!"Dr Ivo exclaimed and placed his hands over his mouth from telling any information. "What just happened?"
Our five minutes of interrogating Ivo was over and Warden Strange came to fetch Ivo and bring him back to his cell.
Then, with our first solid lead to the whereabouts of T.O. Morrow and in turn Red Tornado, the eight of us started to make our way back out of the prison.
As we crossed an upper walkway, I slowed walked beside Zatanna to talk to her.
"That was pretty cool."I remarked with a smile. "Have you ever done anything like that with someone before?"
"The spell?"Zatanna asked.
I nodded as the black haired girl shook her head.
"Not particularly."Zatanna answered. "I'm just glad it worked."
"Did your mum teach you that trick?"I suggested.
"My mum is not around anymore."Zatanna responded with a hint of sadness.
"I'm so sorry, I didn't mean-"I started.
"It's okay."Zatanna assured with a friendly smile. "I have my dad. So I'm not alone."
I bit my lip a little.
Me and my curiosity.
Several minutes passed within in the Bio-Ship as it flew over the empty space while in camouflage mode.
"Block out all external communications."Aqualad ordered. "Soon, Canary and Zatara, Batman too, I imagine will know of our…visit with Professor Ivo. We haven't much time."
I swallowed a bit before looking at Robin.
"If Batman found out that we went to visit Professor Ivo with the Team, we are so grounded."I warned quietly.
"Relax, Jay."Robin instructed with a smirk. "You usually have a way to make him forgive and forget."
"Yeah, right."I scoffed sarcastically and folded my arms. "Tell him that after we get extra hours to do incomplete school work."
"I think we're all just trying to get a handle on your powers."Artemis informed, looking at Zatanna. "Could you teleport us to Tornado or Morrow to a cell or force his bots to surrender?"
"Or create peace on Earth for all time?"Zatanna guessed. "Zatara couldn't even do all that and I'm nowhere near on my dad's level. I need to know a spell cold or else have time to prep it. Plus, all magic requires energy which usually has to come from within. I can't just make the impossible happen at will."
"What's our ETA to Yellowstone?"Superboy demanded angrily. "I'm way past ready to stuff Tornado into a trash compactor."
"Are you so certain he betrayed us?"Aqualad asked calmly.
"Aren't you?!"Superboy shouted.
"I am not convinced."Aqualad answered. "And even so, that makes him but a victim of his creator's programming. Certainly, he deserves the chance to prove he's more than the weaponothers designed him to be."
Me and Robin looked at each other before Superboy closed his eyes as he turned back towards the front of the Bio-Ship.
Yellowstone National Park
October 10th, 20:22 MDT
My eyes were slowly closing as a familiar annoying voice spoke to me.
"Wake up, pretty bird."A voice instructed while tapping my shoulder. "We are here."
I frowned and looked at Kid Flash.
"I know, stupid."I retorted with a glare. "I was awake."
"It didn't look like you were, Jay."Robin sneered.
I rolled my eyes before looking at the window, where I saw Bio-Ship flew past a geyser and landed in the trees.
"Stealth Mode."Aqualad said and hits his belt buckle.
I stood up from my seat as Kid Flash tapped his emblem with his cast.
Artemis hits the center of her Arrow causing the green of her costume to darken to the colour of pine trees during the night while her bright green arrow was now a pale grey.
Miss Martian's clothes darken to a fully black bodysuit, only the red X and the blue cape remaining.
Zatanna opened the door and Aqualad approached her.
"I recommend you stay behind."Aqualad insisted.
"Is that an order?"Zatanna asked.
"No."Aqualad assured. "You must do as you see fit."
"Good."Zatanna said before she began chanting and guided the bright blue magic smoke up her body. "Emit to yrt eht wen kool!"
The blue smoke vanished, revealing Zatanna wearing a new outfit.
Zatanna wore a white button up shirt with an equally white bowtie, a pale yellow vest under a black twin-tailed suit coat, white gloves, silver tights, black short shorts and shin high boots.
We all came out of the Bio-Ship and walked through the trees.
Me, Robin and Aqualad approached a tall tree that was close to the open field area.
Robin pulled up his holographic computer, looking over the map.
"Ivo's right."Robin declared. "Something's down there."
"Must be the Androids."I suggested with a small glare.
Aqualad lead the charge and the rest of us started following him, only to be stopped by harsh blowing winds that knock us off our feet.
I placed up my elbow to protect my eyes from the coming dust and saw Red Tornado above us.
Red Tornado uncrossed his arms creating a huge red twister, a second popped up next to it and it continued until the eight of us were trapped between the ex-League level Hero and seven gigantic tornadoes.
"Why, Tornado?!"Miss Martian yelled out. "Why are you doing this?"
Red Tornado's arms were once again crossed over his chest as more tornadoes crop up between him and us.
I frowned as I watched the tornadoes surrounding us and blocking any our escape routes.
"Message received?"Miss Martian asked.
"Who cares why?"Superboy demanded impatiently. "Nail him!"
Superboy charged forward to attack the Red Tornado.
"Superboy, maneuver seven!"Aqualad called out.
Red Tornado looked like he was not going to move as Aqualad pulled back his fist and then suddenly he moves just enough for Aqualad's eyes to go wide before he was hit in the face by Tornado's punch.
Superboy gets taken out as the two of them crashed down together.
Artemis stepped up with her bow in hand, grabbing two arrows that she shoots at Tornado.
Robin and I went between her to back her up if needed.
The arrows nearly make it to Red Tornado, before he stopped them dead and pulled them into the tornado keeping him in the air.
With no warning, they're shot back at us.
"Look out!"Robin yelled out.
Robin grabbed me tightly to move us out of the way before we were blown away by the explosion.
I winced a little when I felt something sharp leave a cut on my left leg.
"That does it, Red!"Kid Flash declared as he stood up from his crouch. "You're not the only spin doctor around here!"
Kid Flash spins and created his own twister due to the speed of his whirling.
Miss Martian tried to take advantage of Tornado's distraction, coming at him from high and behind.
Just as Miss Martian goes to throw a punch at Red Tornado, he turned over his shoulder to avoid her hit and grabbed her wrist.
Red Tornado threw her into Kid Flash causing both of them to hit the ground hard.
Zatanna was the only one left standing.
"Etaerc a…a…dleihs dnuora ym-"Zatanna started.
Zatanna's stuttered was cut off by Tornado's hand around her neck before she was dropped to the ground.
All the other tornadoes disappeared while Red Tornado remained high off the ground above us.
Then another Android comes up behind Red Tornado.
"Quite a performance, brother."Red Volcano complemented. "But we both know that's all it was. I have all your memories, Tornado, plus a next-gen processor. I know your next move before you do."
The Earth slammed upwards, revealing a message to play dead.
"Blowing a message into the sand?"Red Volcano scoffed.
All of us slowly sat up as we watched Red Volcano shatter it into pieces and sent the rocks straight towards us.
Aqualad formed swords with his water bearers, Superboy jumped at the pieces and Miss Martian used her telekinesis to keep the rest of us safe.
Though some still make it through, the eight of us have to quickly scatter.
"Zatanna?"Robin asked.
"I'm good."Zatanna assured. "But Red Tornado's getting away."
"Is he abandoning us?!"Artemis demanded incredulously as she nocked another arrow.
"I don't believe that."Miss Martian stated.
Kid Flash runs up to Volcano's pillar, only to get hit by the side with a harsh punch.
"You stand no chance against me, humans!"Red Volcano snarled.
"We're not human!"Superboy and Miss Martian shouted together.
M'gann using her power to keep Superboy in the air as she flew towards the villain.
"Apologies, I suppose the properly inclusive term is-"Red Volcano started as he made two huge hands of Earth rise up and clap together over the Alien members of the Team. "Meat bags."
Red Volcano swiped his right hand down and the Earth shattered, dropping Aqualad and Artemis into a hole.
But Artemis was quick to use an arrow with a line to catch herself, swing over and catch the leader before getting them out of the rift before it would've crushed them.
Robin and I used the new ridge as a jumping off point before we threw a batarang and a birdarang at Red Volcano.
However, Volcano caught them and they exploded in his grip without harming him.
"Tornado's memory files and my superior processing speed allow me to anticipate your every move."Red Volcano announced with a annoyed expression.
"Ekoms emoceb a dlofdnilb!"Zatanna chanted out.
Then deep black smoke around Volcano covered his eyes.
Robin and I jumped away to go to Zatanna's side as we watched Volcano struggling to see.
"Tornado never knew my moves."Zatanna stated proudly.
"And I bet you've got some good ones."Robin admitted and realised what he said. "Whoa. Sorry, that may have come off a little too Wally."
"I don't mind."Zatanna assured.
"Focus, guys."I reminded impatiently.
Suddenly Red Volcano's eyes glowed even brighter as the machinery inside him whirred into a new gear.
As Red Volcano shoots almost laser-like beams into the sky, the Super Volcano behind him erupted.
"Oh snap."I muttered with a hint of shock.
Then Red Volcano launched two small molten rocks at Kid Flash.
Kid Flash used one of Red Volcano's old spires to jump out of the way and flipped to the level below before skidding to a stop.
"He's activating a Stage Two Eruption."Kid Flash warned. "It gets to Stage Three, kiss the hemisphere goodbye."
Aqualad hopped in beside him before charging at Red Volcano with two swords.
"Hit him from all sides."Aqualad ordered.
Red Volcano takes out Aqualad with a simple wave of his right hand.
Superboy jumped towards Red Volcano from the front, his fist connects and the pressure wave shows the force behind it, but Red Volcano blocked it.
Red Volcano grabbed Superboy's wrist and throws him closer to the magma.
Camouflaged Miss Martian landed and pulled at Volcano's turned back.
Volcano merely glanced over his shoulder to cause a vent to burst with air, debris and magma.
Miss M screamed as she was revealed by the magma.
"M'gann!" Superboy leaps to get to her.
Red Volcano landed in the mere feet between the two teens, startling them.
He turned to Superboy, knocking him away.
Volcano reaches out and grabbed Miss M by the hood as she coughed and grunted.
"Ekoms dna srorrim."Zatanna chanted, one hand on the crouching Kid's shoulder. "Etaerc Dik Hsalf snoisulli!"
The smoke from the lava turned into copies of KF and all of them take off within moments.
"I-I use a scaled down version when I want to sneak out of the house." she says brightly.
Red Volcano raised a hand a rock fly to take out some of the KFs, while his back was turned at the real Kid Flash, who focusing in on Miss Martian.
Red Volcano snagged her away from him and comes to stop beside the rest of us.
Suddenly water bursts up on Aqualad's right, morphing in a stream that hits Red Volcano in the chest and knocked him into the lava behind him.
"Nice hit!"Robin remarked.
"The hit was not mine."Aqualad responded. "Look!"
Robin and I followed where Aqualad was pointing at and we saw Red Torpedo rising up on another pillar of water to send two smaller streams at a still partially submerged Volcano.
This covered the area in steam due to the temperature difference and then a stone pillar rose up with Red Volcano lying on top.
Red Tornado flew in and takes out the pillar, dropping Red Volcano back into the magma.
I remained with Robin as all of us watched the sight in stunned silence.
Fireballs rain down on Red Volcano as he surfaced again.
Red Inferno sent fireballs to hit Red Volcano until she gets close enough to physically hit him.
Red Volcano has a crushing grip on Red Inferno's hands and she pushed against him.
"Sister, brother, stop!"Red Volcano demanded.
Like a rocket Red Torpedo hits Red Volcano in the chest, taking all three of them into the magma fully.
The two lighter Reds hold him down by the neck and the left arm despite how they're already melting.
Red Tornado flew silently over the lava, using his tornado as a buffer before he stands on Red Volcano's chest.
Now all of them were melting away with the heat.
"Father would be so disappointed." Red Volcano says before his eyes glow brightly one more time and the machinery within him whirs low.
Superboy jumped over quickly, grabbing Red Tornado by the cape and pulling him from the lava.
I paled as the volcano in front of us continued to rumble and grow.
"Tornado, listen, we're on the verge of a Stage Three Super Volcano Eruption!"Kid Flash warned. "There's no turning back from that! We need to vent pressure, fast! But the ash cloud will bring on a worldwide Nuclear Winter unless you divert it."
Red Tornado nodded at Kid Flash before the speedster looked at me.
"Triangulate around the pressure locus."Kid Flash ordered.
"Sure."I replied as I typed on my mini laptop and three spots appeared in its holo screen. "There, there and there."
Artemis shoots her arrow to the Volcano, it break into three and they explode on contact.
Red Tornado's leg spark a little before he gets his signature tornado under him and he flew off past the ash cloud.
His eyes glowed red as he snapped his arms out, creating a gigantic tornado that pulled the ash cloud up and through the outer atmosphere.
Our fears went away when we saw the magma cool down.
"Yes!"Kid Flash chuckled in victory.
However Red Tornado fell from the sky and didn't land well causing the eight of us to rush towards him.
We went to Morrow's lab to have Red Tornado recovered while Superboy watched the robot from behind.
I placed a small bandage around my leg to cover the cut I got from the fight.
Red Tornado's faceplate came back down, but his legs were still missing.
"There."Robin said in relief. "That should do it."
"Yes."Red Tornado confirmed. "I can speak again."
"You were willing to sacrifice yourself to save the planet."Aqualad stated.
"The planet would have survived. It was Humanity that was saved."Red Tornado admitted and turned towards us. "Though not by me. My sister and brother were the true heroes this day."
Aqualad placed a hand on the Leaguer's shoulder.
"My point is this…you were never the mole, never a traitor."Aqualad commented.
"No."Red Tornado answered. "I left to protect you from further attack and to find my creator, Morrow."
Kid Flash was looking through stuff and brought up a large red hand.
"Cool."Kid Flash remarked. "Souvenir."
Robin was looking through another container and found a leg that he showed to KF.
"Reddy, we can rebuild you better than you were before."Robin insisted.
"I do not believe I should be repaired."Red Tornado admitted.
"Are you sure?"I questioned.
"Yes, Miss Blue Jay."Red Tornado assured.
I nodded with a small smile as Superboy suddenly spoke up.
"Why did you volunteer to become our Den Mother in the first place?"Superboy asked.
"I was the pragmatic choice."Red Tornado responded bluntly. "I do not require sleep. I have no secret identity or second life to live."
"But you do have advanced AI Programming designed to learn, adapt, evolve."Kid Flash complemented as he played with the souvenir.
"Hello, Megan!"Miss Martian exclaimed as she knocked on her head. "You wanted to become more human."
"And you couldn't do that with the League."Artemis added. "They're stiffs."
"You're sure not going to learn emotion from Batman."Robin chuckled. "Trust me."
"Then the cave was not a proving ground only for us…but for you as well."Aqualad said.
"I do not know if those statements are accurate."Red Tornado admitted. "But perhaps they are true. And if I understand the term correctly, I believe I have come to…care about you all."
This made Red Tornado turn away, looking back to stare up at the ceiling again.
"Which reminds me..."Red Tornado started.
After repairing Red Tornado and allowing him to look after the real T.O. Morrow since the other one was another android, we finally got back on the Bio-Ship and began the trip back to Mount Justice.
"So Zatanna...how'd you like your kidnapping?"Artemis asked.
"I actually loved it."Zatanna responded with a smile. "Best ever."
Robin chuckled. "First of many, I hope."
Zatanna turned back to the front with a worried look.
"If my dad doesn't ground me for life."Zatanna admitted.
I groaned and leaned down to hit my head against the console in front of my seat, making everybody turn to look at me.
"Aw man."I scowled and face palmed. "How am I going to report Batman about this?"
"Relax, pretty bird."Kid Flash instructed and started to brag. "At least we didn't end up as dust, thanks to my brilliant idea."
Robin nodded from where he was sitting behind me.
"Yeah."Robin agreed. "You got nothing to worry about."
"Oh right."I said with a frown. "Let's all hope the positives at this moment do not outweigh the negatives, Boy Wonder."