AN: Ok, so I am not putting the song lyrics in, but I HIGHLY recommend you listen to Smashing Pumpkin's Bullet with Butterfly Wings while reading the first part of this update. If this was a movie, that's what would be playing during this part.
Chapter 5: Memories and Meetings
XXX
River's POV
There is a flurry of activity as Waller and Flag burst through the office door at Belle Reve.
"Talk to me Tam." Waller says as she moves quickly to look over my shoulder at my computer.
I was already hacking into local news feeds and picking up social media chatter before they made it away from the range. "Midway City is under attack. It's a non- human entity."
"How long will the locals be able to hold some type of containment together?" Flag asks as he looks at the footage too.
"A few hours at best. But we won't be able to get them ready in that time."
Waller shows no sign of worry though. "I'll take Flag and Dr. Moone. We will see if we can do some damage while you stay and get them ready. I want them on the scene ASAP Tam."
"Yes Ma'am." I say as I watch Waller collect her things before she and Flag go in search of Dr. Moone to head to Midway City.
I sigh, pinch the bridge of my nose, and mentally hate myself for the order I have to call into Griggs.
"Griggs…" I say into my radio as I wait for him to respond.
"Do my ears deceive me, or is the princess callin' me." Griggs responds after a moment.
Just hearing his voice makes me want to vomit, but I get right to the point. "Activate Task Force X."
XXX
Seconds after River had called in the order to Griggs, Belle Reve went into high alert. The prisoners would need to be secured one at a time, because they simply didn't have the man power to extract them all at once. And for the two still in process… they would have to be bagged and tagged separately from the others because they still hadn't been able to clear them of all their weapons.
Griggs and his crew are on his way to extract Deadshot when he sends a text. "They're being moved. Need to hit Van Criss ASAP." Griggs types on a purple burner phone as he glances anxiously for the reply.
"Give her the phone before they move. xD"
This would be one order Griggs would have no problem complying with.
XXX
…1 hour later…
River's POV
I watched from the control room as they went to each of their cells, one by one, to round up the members of Task Force X. It was a weird feeling, being on this side of the glass…watching… observing like they had done with me back at the Academy. I wince when I think about it… think about how I'm just like them. Just like all those old men. Never getting their hands dirty by doing anything… just standing and watching others do it for them.
It's makes me sick to my stomach and my skin crawl. I can't help but see flashes of memory mixed with visions of how each squad member would be rounded up. Memories of how I was forced to get on my knees, like Harley, when they would come to get me… or how later I would stand my ground like Deadshot.
After I put enough of them into the infirmary they would have to come for me when I least expected it, like Chatto, and stick me with some new drug to knock me out. I was a thing to them… an experiment… something less than human, like Croc. Some piece of trash that they had stepped on and didn't give a second thought about, like Harkness.
I turn away from the monitors to try and stomp out the memories out of existence. But it's like a tidal wave of nauseous emotion, and nothing I do is going to get those memories out of my brain. I squeeze my eyes shut in hopes of keeping the tears inside, but a few escape. At least I am only screaming on the inside.
"Despite all my rage, I am still just a rat in a cage." I say as I begin to wipe away tears and with shaky hands pack up my stuff. Nothing has changed… I'm still trapped. Still a soldier in someone-else's war.
Before I head out of the office to pick up a certain something from Griggs, I make a phone call from Waller's line. I don't have to wait very long for them to pick up.
"Hello, this is Ms. Tam, Amanda Waller's aide. It seems something has come up and we will need to close the facility today…" The man on the other end is not amused.
"Yes, I do understand Dr. Van Criss, but this isn't up for discussion."
XXX
…1 hour later…
As the white delivery van pulls up to the gate at Van Criss industries, the occupants are met with a rather unexpected sight. The facility was closed. More than just closed, it was outright deserted when it should have had at least some security guards or something.
"What do we have here?" The Joker says as he peaks his head up from the back of the van.
"Boss, I ain't think anyone's here." The driver says quite idiotically.
But the Joker is already less than pleased at what he sees and punches the man in the face for his idiocy. "You don't say."
Just then, the Joker's pocket vibrates, and he fishes out his phone.
His face contorts into devilish grin and his maniacal laugh echoes off the metal walls of the van as he reads the text message. "In life, as in chess, forethought wins." Signed with a cat emoji.
He had to give her credit. She was playing a dangerous game, and she was doing quite well. He was intrigued before. But now? Now, she had his attention.
"Oh, you want to play little kitty cat… lets play." The Joker says as he sits back down in the back of the van.
"Boss?" The driver asks him, not sure of what to do.
"Plan B." The Joker says with irritation dripping from his voice.
That's all the driver needs to hear as he backups and drives to their next destination.
XXX
…1 hour later, Midway City…
By the time Waller, Flag, and Dr. Moone were wheels up in the air, the situation in Midway City had gone from bad to worse. Worldwide military was on alert, and conventional weapons were already proving to be ineffective. When Waller reached Midway City, there was already a plan in place to drop a high explosive payload underneath the non-human entity and detonate. It had been Waller's idea to send in Flag and Dr. Moone, or rather Enchantress, to drop the charges. It seemed foolproof.
"Flag, talk to me. What's going on down there?" Waller says as she monitors the inferred cameras and the surveillance footage from the subway that her command post had been able to hack into.
For the next minute, Waller waits patiently for the Colonel to respond. However, when he does, it is not with what Waller expects.
"Amanda, she bolted."
Waller never asks anyone to repeat themselves, but she's so amazed by what she hears she has to. "Say it again?"
"She bolted!" Flag's voice screams in her headpiece.
"Shit." Waller says as she proceeds to stab Enchantress's heart with her pen repeatedly.
XXX
As Enchantress fade walks into the old train station that Incubus has fortified, she's already starting to fade away.
"Brother help me. Before she kills me." Enchantress says as she drags her body towards the towering form of Incubus.
He immediately stops creating his fortifications and turns towards his sister. While he hasn't fully recovered his strength yet, he has more than enough energy to share. Incubus releases a wave of energy from his hand and it washes over Enchantress; as it does, the dirt, grime, and scar tissue are washed away, and in their place Enchantress stands akin to a living gold statue.
"Where's your heart?" Incubus asks as he stands and takes in his sister.
"I will take it back. Until then you will share your power. Now help me build my altar. It's time to bring nightmares to life." Enchantress says as she walks towards the end of the room. She raises her hands and releases the energy from her hands… a swirl of lights, smoke, and energy begin to fill the room as Enchantress sets to work.
XXX
…Military transport, In route to Midway City…
River's POV
I'm sitting in the front with the pilot, still keeping my distance from the squad. I'm not sure if it's out of self preservation of my mental stability or guilt that I am the one who got them into this. I can hear them all… their voices are loud enough to drown out the whir of the plane's engines. But it's getting very crowded in there and I feel like my mind is gasping for breath.
A buzz in my pocket pulls me out of internal struggle. It's the purple burner phone I had taken from Griggs. It had been easy enough to lift the phone when I passed him the hallway, and I imagine he was close to a mental breakdown searching for it back at Belle Reve. It had been a delicious little gift at send off to not have to see him when they loaded up the squad.
I look at the phone and read the message. "I can't wait to show you my new toys, kitty cat. hAhaHa XD"
Hmm… This could be interesting and if leveraged correctly, would prove useful. "I have a proposition." I text back quickly.
I get a response a few seconds after I send mine. "Are you sweet-talkin' me again? Careful, could get you hurt… XD"
I chuckle and send my response…
XXX
…2 hours later, Midway City…
The entire city had been put on lockdown after the first plan failed. Flag had been lucky to get to the evac-site and regroup with the Alpha and Bravo teams. He was tired, hungry, and more than a little pissed as he's going over the newest set of mission parameters.
"Those assholes here yet?" Flag asks his Captain on Alpha team, GQ.
"Yeah. Touched down 5 minutes ago. Tam's on her way here now." GQ responds as he looks back towards where River is approaching the group.
Flag stands and looks back in the direction that GQ is looking. "Glad you could join the party Tam."
XXX
River's POV
"I miss out on anything good? Hi GQ." I say as I give him a quick hug.
GQ had handled part of my additional training, and we had bonded over the few weeks we spent working together. And while it had at first stung to think of him like a surrogate brother… it had gotten easier.
"Hey shorty." He says as he returns my hug and ruffles my hair. I can feel Flag rolling his eyes, but also suppressing a chuckle. He liked that GQ and I got along.
"They unloaded?" Flag asks me as I let go of GQ and fix my hair.
"On the way here now. Along with their personal property." I say as I look around the command post to see where I can setup shop briefly and organize my equipment. "Can I setup there?" I ask Flag as I point to a semi-unoccupied part of his command tent.
"Make it quick." Flag says as he nods ok. "Alpha, Bravo team, on me. Let's go see these scumbags."
I roll my eyes as Flag takes Alpha and Bravo teams to see the squad. Flag needs to loosen up on his definition of scumbag.
I take my backpack and duffle over to the unoccupied table and quickly begin to pull out my personal equipment. The backpack is filled with my tech equipment, while the duffle has my weapons and combat clothes.
Well… my version of combat clothes. Flag had called me foolish, said I would have difficulty moving and it didn't provide enough protection. But what can I say, the sleeveless black leather jumpsuit felt like a second skin. And the boots? Well, the reminded me of my old ones, except these were the right size.
I quickly head over to one of the empty tents to get changed.
XXX
Harley Quinn, Deadshot, El Diablo, and Killer Croc are strapped to the metal wheelchairs as Flag approaches with the Alpha and Bravo teams. Captain Boomerang is being carried over in a canvas bag, while Weiss had to be handcuffed to three military guards to keep him secure.
"Unlock 'em." Flag tells the military personnel responsible for transporting them.
No one waits to be told twice, and quickly unlock the bindings on the four 'freaks' so they can back the fuck away. Everyone just stands and watches to see what they are going to do or say.
It's Harley that speaks first. "Hi, boys! Harley Quinn. How do you do?" She says as she reaches her hand out towards anyone close by. They all move further away.
When no one starts talking to her, Harley takes matters into her own hands. "Haaah? What was that? I should kill everyone and escape? Sorry. The voices." Again, her 'joke' is met with silence. "I'm kidding. jeez!" She says accompanied with a raucous laugh. "That's not what they really said." She says under her breath as the military personnel drag over the canvas bag with Captain Boomerang.
"What do we got here? 12 pounds of shit in a 10- pound sack." Flag says as he leans down and slice open the canvas bag instead of dealing with the lock on the zipper. "Welcome to party, Capitan Boomerang."
But that is all Flag manages to get out before a very angry Boomerang springs up and starts throwing punches at anyone nearby. Two members of Bravo team and Flag have to restrain him.
"Hey, hey, hey ... What's going on, man?" Captain says as Flag puts a knife to his neck.
"Calm down." Flag says as he pulls the knife back.
Boomerang starts to chuckle a little. "Hey, one minute I'm playing Mahjong with me nanna then this red streak hits me outta nowhere."
But Flag is not willing to take any bullshit. "Shut up! You were caught robbing a diamond exchange."
"I was not!" Boomerang exclaims as the Bravo team guys begin to none to gently move him to stand with the others.
"Oi! Quinn, whatcha doin' here?" Boomerang yells as he takes in the others around him.
"Same as you Digger." She says easily. "And here comes Slipknot the man who climb anything. Wonderful." Harley says with mild disgust. She had crossed paths with Slipknot before and was not a fan of some of his… opinions.
"Have a good time, scumbag." A female military officer says as she finally gets to unlock herself from being chained to Slipknot. Slipknot doesn't say anything though as he head butts the woman.
The two remaining military officers proceeds to pull him up and away from the fallen woman, while Slipknot merely shrugs his shoulders. "She had a mouth."
Harley sneers in disgust at him.
Flag is already pained having to deal with these fools and wants to get the show on the road. "Listen up!" He yells. "In your necks injection you got, it's a nanite explosive. the size of a rice grain but it's powerful as a hand grenade. You disobey me, you die. You try to escape, you die. You otherwise irritate or vex me, and guess what? You die."
Haley decides to have a little fun and quickly raises her hand. "I'm known to be quite vexing. I'm just forewarning you." She says with a laugh.
"Lady, shut up!" Flag has zero patience for any of them right now. This was supposed to be Tam's detail and she's lagging. "This is the deal. You're going somewhere very bad to do something that'll get you killed. But until that happens you're my problem."
Deadshot chimes in when Flag has finished. "So was that like a pep talk?"
"Sure, call that a pep talk. There's your shit. Grab what you need for a fight. We're wheels up in 10." Flag tells all of them as he points to the crates and trash bags full of their stuff.
But Deadshot continues to get in Flag's face a little. "You might wanna work on your team motivation thing. You heard of Phil Jackson?"
"Yeah." Flag says with zero amusement in his voice.
"He's like a gold standard. OK? Triangle, bitch. Study." Deadshot says as he throws a triangle hand sign in Flag's face.
The earwig in Flag's ear buzzes, and he chuckles at the voice he hears. "You want pep talks? Talk to her." Flag says as he turns and points to River walking up to ragtag group.
XXX
River's POV
The minute I see Flag point in my direction, was the minute my inner voice went "Oh Shit," as their thoughts slam into my head.
"Trouble?"
"Hey, ain't she the girl I seen lurkin' around the club?"
Seven sets of angry, confused, or just amused faces snapped in my direction, and almost all of them recognize me.
"Didn't I see her when Zoe and I…"
"You got to be shittin' me."
"This chica?"
I wanted to punch Flag just a little bit for directing everyone to me.
"Meet the ringleader of the freakshow." Flag says as he takes a step away from Deadshot to give me the metaphorical floor.
"Oh, we've met before, ain't we Trouble?" Boomerang says as his eyes start at my feet and rove up my body. I'm getting flashes of what he's focusing on, and I can't help but chuckle. At least he isn't one of the angry voices in my head… that would be Deadshot and Slipknot.
"You're the girl who was in the toy story, the one who told Zoe you liked her jacket." Deadshot remarks as also gives me a one over. But unlike Boomerang, Deadshot's gaze is appraising me as a threat.
"And I know I've seen you in Mister J's club." Harley says as she walks over.
El Diablo is also drawing closer. "She's the one who been roundin' us all up homies. I seen her in LA too."
I dare to take a deep breath and hold out my hand for someone to shake. It might be idiotic, but I can try. "River Tam."
Not so surprisingly, it's Harley who grabs it with her own and shakes it enthusiastically. "Harley Quinn… nice to meetcha."
XXX
AN: Alright. The first meeting. Well, part of it ;) And if anyone is curious as to what River's outfit looks like, google Summer Glau in the Sarah Connor Chronicles. It's the black leather outfit with the belt that wraps around her waist. It really was just the perfect outfit.
Also, what do you think River's proposition to Joker is going to be, hmmm? ;)