A/N: In case it isn't already clear, the Monday-Friday update schedule I outlined at the start of this story's posting is completely out the window. Sorry, guys, real life took over.
Big thank-yous and e-hugs to JimmyHall24 and especially dorizard for reviewing the last chapter!
Chapter Thirteen: Red Flags
Star Sapphire was out on patrol in the early hours of Wednesday morning when she caught sight of a shadowy figure darting across an airfield. Frowning at this blatantly suspicious activity, she swooped closer to the ground and witnessed the unknown person disappearing beneath the undercarriage of an impressive looking fighter jet. Star Sapphire watched for a few moments, but when the person failed to reappear, she landed next to the plane and shone a light under it.
"What exactly are you doing?"
The man she'd caught froze under her beam like a literal deer in the headlights. "This isn't what it looks like," he protested feebly.
"No?" questioned Star Sapphire. "Because to me it looks like you're messing around with the secondary fuel tank."
Despite his obvious apprehension about being confronted by an energy-wielding vigilante, the man was curious. "What do you know about airplane fuel tanks?"
"More than you think. I'm going to ask again, and you'd better answer this time. What are you doing?"
He held his hands up, looking appropriately fearful. "I'm not messing around, I swear. This baby's going for her test flight in a few hours; I'm just making sure that everything's in tip-top shape. Don't want it crashing and burning like the first model."
"How noble of you," Star Sapphire said dryly. "Why are you sneaking around to do it?"
"Technically speaking, Ferris Air doesn't know I'm here…wait, wait, let me explain!" he cried as a bright pink glow blazed around her fist. "I'm U.S.A.F — look!" He showed her his Air Force identification card: Capt. Hardy, Vince.
Star Sapphire frowned. "Why is U.S.A.F. snooping around a plane belonging to Ferris Air?"
"It's our plane. We commissioned it from Ferris Air. The higher-ups think there might be something fishy going on with the Peregrine development, because there wasn't a satisfactory explanation for why the last one blew up."
"And you think Ferris Air is deliberately undermining their own plane?" All of a sudden, Star Sapphire was furious, though she didn't want to dwell overmuch on the reason for this. Why should she care so much about the politics of some random aircraft company?
"That's why I'm checking it out," Hardy hastened to explain. "One of our own is test piloting this later — we don't want anything to happen to him."
"And?" she demanded.
Hardy blinked warily. "And…what?"
"Does the Peregrine pass your inspection or not?"
"Oh — oh! Yeah! Yeah, it does." Hardy coughed and then cleared his throat. "All good here. Heh. Um…you're not going to hit me, are you?" he asked, cringing.
"I'm considering it."
"Ah…I'd rather you didn't, ma'am. I'm just doing my job."
"So you've said." Star Sapphire glared at him. "I'm giving you the benefit of the doubt here, because I can't find any proof that you're lying. But, I'm keeping my ear out today; if I hear that anything has happened to this plane, I will hunt you down myself. Clear?"
Hardy gulped and nodded nervously. A light of terror had appeared in his eyes.
"Get out of here before I change my mind."
With a last, fearful glance at the Peregrine, Hardy bolted.
It was a concerned Zatanna who materialized on the Watchtower that morning. An expectant Batman was already waiting for her in the transporter room.
"Bruce, have you seen my father? I know he wasn't on monitor duty last night, but he didn't come home, and…" Zatanna trailed off at the look on Batman's face. "Bruce?" she asked uncertainly.
Batman exhaled slowly. "Zee, there's something you need to know."
"I still can't wrap my head around it," James said breathlessly as he pulled his plate of pancakes towards him and started shovelling forkfuls into his mouth. The whole time, his eyes never left the ring on John's third finger. "My brother, the Green Lantern!"
"A Green Lantern, James," John corrected. "There are thousands of others around the universe."
"Yeah, but none of them are here, are they?" pointed out his brother. "This is so cool!"
"James, you're dripping maple syrup on the tablecloth," Carrie reprimanded.
"Oops! Sorry, Ma."
"I can't believe you stuck around here for two weeks," John said to Rex, who was morosely nursing a hangover over a cup of black coffee.
"Well, I couldn't very well leave when my buddy was missing, could I? Ugh," Rex groaned, dropping his aching head back into his hands.
"I told you not to drink so much," John said, utterly unsympathetically.
Rex looked up at him blearily. "Can you blame me?" The copious amount of alcohol he had consumed last night was partly due to celebration that John had returned, and partly as a coping mechanism for the incredible tale his Marine buddy had spun for them upon reappearing at the Stewart apartment.
"Yes."
Rex managed a snort that wasn't entirely pitiful. "Oh, I so won't be bothering to hang around the next time you vanish, no siree."
John rolled his eyes, but he had a gruff smile on his face for the friend who had supported his family through their weeks of worry. "Drink your coffee, Rex."
"Be careful up there," Carol told Hal. "Make sure you double check the meters, and keep a sharp eye out for anything that looks weird, and keep your safety belt on, and for God's sake, don't do anything crazy in the air."
"Carol, it's going to be fine," Hal emphasized. "You've personally overseen every aspect of this Peregrine, and I promise you that everything looked perfect on the blueprints."
"Everything looked perfect on the blueprints for the first model, too."
"Your people ran system checks yesterday, didn't they?"
"Yes," Carol admitted. "And then I did them again myself."
"Did you?" Hal smiled. "Well, now I know I'll be safe."
Carol was unappeased. "Hal…"
"Ms. Ferris." Tom Kalmaku appeared from around the corner. "We're all set. Everything looks good."
"There, you see, Carol? Tom's the best mechanic you have around here, and even he says the Peregrine's fine."
"Thank you, Mr. Kalmaku," Carol said, ignoring Hal's comment. "Please tell the Colonel that I'll be with him shortly."
"Yes, ma'am." Tom nodded and left, though not before receiving a wink from Hal.
"Go on, Carol. You don't want to keep Col. Walters waiting."
"I'm going, I'm going." Carol met his eyes one last time. "Be careful."
Hal's face softened. "I will."
"I don't understand," Zatanna said, struggling to wrap her mind around the image of her beloved father encased in solid crystal. She reached out one cautious finger to touch the hard surface. "You're saying…this stuff…runs on his love?"
"Lost love, Doctor Fate thinks," Batman clarified. "We can get him out, Zee."
Zatanna immediately whipped around. "How?"
"We're working on it."
She deflated. "You don't know."
"Yet," Batman stressed. "We don't know yet. But Flash was temporarily trapped too, and he managed to get out —"
"What?" Zatanna gasped. "How? Can he do it for my father? Where the heck is he, anyway?" She looked around as though she expected the Scarlet Speedster to zoom in any moment.
"Zatanna," Batman said steadily. "He needs some time. The crystal played on his emotions for his uncle. He's not sure what he did to escape. He's trying to figure it out; once he does, we'll find a way to use it to free Zatara and J'onn, and all the other men in Coast City."
"I can't believe this is happening." Zatanna pressed her fingers into her temple. "His uncle?" she questioned.
Batman nodded. "The previous Flash, of the Justice Society. He died last year while Wally was in a coma."
Zatanna winced. "Yikes. Poor kid." She glanced back at her father; Zatara's eyes were closed, for which she was thankful — but there was no mistaking the aching longing on his face. "I can't lose him again, Bruce," she said with a little catch in her voice.
"You won't," he promised.
She looked at him with sad, hopeful eyes. "You're sure?"
"Doctor Fate is optimistic. The stasis is completely reversible. This isn't permanent, Zee."
She took a deep breath. "Okay. What are we doing about Star Sapphire?"
Batman's expression didn't change. "I have some ideas."
"Are you sure you packed everything you need?"
"I'm sure."
"Did you double check?"
"Yes."
"Do you have your sketchbook?"
"Yes."
"Your transcripts?"
"Yes."
"Enough underwear?"
"Ma!" James protested, turning red.
"Just checking, honey," said Carrie. "I know how absent-minded you can be. You wouldn't want to find yourself in an awkward situation."
James blushed even more. At the dining table, Rex was trying and failing to hold back his sniggers, and even John was smirking.
"Ma, the University of Michigan is in Ann Arbor. I will be literally one hour away. And coming back on weekends. I'm ready, I swear. Please can we go now?"
"All right, all right." Carrie swiped her keys from the hook beside the door. "John, sure you don't want to change your mind about seeing James off?"
"I'm good," her elder son replied. "Like he said, the university's only an hour's drive away. Besides, if I want to visit, I don't need a car." He held up his hand for emphasis.
James groaned, ignoring for the first time today the thrill of seeing the Green Lantern ring. "Please don't tell me you're going to be popping in to check up on me every other day. That'll be embarrassing."
"I thought you liked the Green Lantern, hotshot."
"Not if you're gonna use the ring to babysit me!" James exclaimed. "That's gotta be an abuse of power, right?"
"Relax, James. As long as you don't lose your head in the clouds, I think I can trust you to take care of yourself."
"Thanks."
"Of course, if I do decide to check on you, you won't even notice me."
"John!"
"James," Carrie interjected, holding open the door, "come on."
John chuckled. "Go on, hotshot. Have fun."
James grinned. "Bye, John. Bye, Rex!" He waved and ducked out of the apartment.
Everything was ready. Hal was safely strapped into the cockpit of the Peregrine 2.0, which itself was primed and ready to go. The usual pre-takeoff parameters — atmospheric conditions, the plane's pressure and temperature measurements, sensitivity of aircraft control, and engine performance, among others — had already been undertaken and successfully passed. Flight test engineers and tech support members from both U.S.A.F. and Ferris Air were gathered in the control room, already evaluating the data acquired and prepared to analyze even more — or to warn Hal if the Peregrine looked like malfunctioning at any moment. The airfield was clear and the medical team was on standby. Even the weather was cooperating; the sky was cloudless and the sun had not reached its bright late-morning glare, so visibility was optimal — and there was a crisp, light autumn breeze blowing in the direction of the intended takeoff, which would only add more lift to the plane. In all honesty, the conditions couldn't have been more perfect.
That didn't stop Carol from nervously fidgeting with her fingernails, though.
"You seem overly anxious, Ms. Ferris," Col. Walters observed. The colonel was a tall, broad-shouldered man with dark blond hair and a neatly trimmed mustache. Beside him, straight-backed and silent, stood another, shorter U.S.A.F. officer, whose name patch read Hardy.
"I apologize," said Carol. "I just can't get the failure of the last test out of my head. It was nearly fatal for our test pilot." She refrained from adding that said pilot had indeed died less than six weeks later — a fact that was contributing significantly to her current unease. Though the actual cause of Ace's death had been completely unrelated to the Peregrine disaster and therefore had no bearing on the risk of today's experiment, the coincidence still made her edgy.
"I have every confidence in Captain Jordan. He's one of our best."
"So do I," agreed Carol. She ignored the subtle implication by Walters that if the Peregrine failed again, it would be no fault of the pilot; blame this time would rest solely on the engineers and mechanics of Ferris Air. Carol knew there was more riding on this flight test than Hal's well-being; if it was unsuccessful, Ferris Air's long-standing contract with the Air Force would almost certainly be terminated.
"Peregrine to mission control," Hal's voice came over the comm. speakers. "Requesting permission for takeoff."
"Whenever you're ready, Ms. Ferris," invited Col. Walters.
Carol forced herself to still her hands and pressed the button on the comm. "Mission Control to Peregrine, you are clear for takeoff."
"Copy that, mission control."
Down on the airfield, Hal engaged the thrusters and nudged the throttle forward. Carol watched breathlessly as the Peregrine shot forward, rocketing down the runway at an incredible speed. The aircraft streaked across the airfield, its engine a loud but smooth purr, and before Carol knew it, the plane was in the air.
"Takeoff has exceeded expectations," Kalmaku noted; the Peregrine had used less than two-thirds of the precalculated runway length.
"Peregrine takeoff successful," Hal reported at almost the same time. Carol had to smile at how official he was being. Though she knew that he had to be capable of formal discipline, given his job, it was rare that she got to see that side of him, instead of the cocky, devil-may-care attitude he often defaulted to. Hal's calm, assured demeanor alleviated her nerves somewhat, but Carol had overseen enough flight tests to know that the takeoff was the easy part.
The real trial was about to begin.
The entirety of the Justice League, with the exception of J'onn and Zatara, had gathered in the conference room for the second time in as many days. Batman had already briefed them all about Doctor Fate's conclusions about the nature of the crystal, and the sorcerer himself had reported that he had managed to confirm his suspicions after further study.
Flash, on the other hand, was still unable to identify exactly what it was that had enabled him to retain the presence of mind to vibrate his way out of the crystal, and it was unanimously agreed that he shouldn't try attempting to vibrate anyone else out until they had a clearer idea of how the stasis worked.
"What about Star Sapphire herself?" asked Aquaman. "Wouldn't she be able to reverse the stasis?"
"Most probably," agreed Doctor Fate.
Wildcat snorted. "Good luck getting her to agree to that."
"It's too bad J'onn was crystallized," Atom lamented. "He could have made her do it, or at least picked her brain to find out how we can do it."
"Even J'onn can't read a person's mind if he doesn't know where they are," Wonder Woman pointed out. "The first thing we need to do is bring Star Sapphire into our custody. Then we can work out how to make her tell us what we need to know. I'm fairly certain that my lasso will work on her even with the distortion hard light causes to magical energies."
"I'm all for that idea," Zatanna concurred with a gleam in her eye. "And if it doesn't, I've been experimenting with mind-manipulating magics; give me a few minutes with her and I'm pretty sure I could get her to talk."
Batman frowned in disapproval.
"Don't look at me like that, Bruce. You know I wouldn't do it unnecessarily."
"That's a debate for later," interjected Black Canary. "I'm with Diana on this one — the first thing to do is to actually catch Star Sapphire."
"Easier said than done," Flash noted.
"Indeed," said Doctor Fate. "It would be prudent to consider just who among us is able to confront her without getting crystallized."
"You mean, whoever doesn't have someone they're missing," surmised Vixen.
"Precisely. And considering Star Sapphire's apparent vendetta against males, it might be best to restrict our choice to the ladies."
"Gee, thanks for throwing us in the firing line, Fate," Hawkgirl muttered, though there was no real offense in her tone. She was a warrior, after all, and she relished any opportunity to fight.
Superman, ever chivalrous, was somewhat more opposed to the idea. "Is that really necessary? I don't think Star Sapphire is going to have a problem fighting anyone, whether they're men or women."
"No, but we know for a fact that the crystal works on men," said Batman. "It may or may not work on women."
"I'll take that bet," Vixen asserted. "I've always liked a challenge."
"As will I," Wonder Woman agreed, exchanging a glance of knowing camaraderie with the African woman.
Black Canary threw her hat in the ring as well. "What the hell," she decided. "I don't have anyone I'm particularly longing for. I'm game."
"You know where I stand," said Zatanna.
"Zatanna. No. Your father," Batman cautioned.
"I haven't lost him, have I? I know he'll be okay once we break him out of that damn crystal."
"But you did lose him for nine years. Even now, you're overprotective of him."
"I am not."
"You are," Aquaman put in. "It is plain to see, Zatanna. You should not risk it. With the Martian Manhunter out of commission, you are the only one who might possibly force the information we need from Star Sapphire should Diana's lasso fail to work around her hard light."
Zatanna looked mutinous, but a meaningful look from Batman silenced any objections.
"Fine," she hissed, disconsolately.
"Zatanna, there is no shame in wishing to protect your father," Aquaman said in a surprisingly gentle voice. "Given your circumstances, it would be surprising if you were not overprotective."
"And I suppose you know how that feels, do you?"
"Ah, Zatanna…" Atom tried to warn.
"I do," Aquaman stated calmly.
Zatanna blinked, an expression of chagrin spreading across her face. "I'm sorry," she apologized.
Aquaman inclined his head, but did not respond.
Vixen was the one who broke the tension. "What about you, Hawkgirl?" she inquired, glancing at the only female Leaguer yet to weigh in. "You in?"
Hawkgirl sighed, uncharacteristically glum. "Believe me, I'd love to, but I think I'd better sit this one out."
"What?" exclaimed Black Canary. "Why?"
"Because if Star Sapphire's crystal does work on women, I'll be the first one it gets." Without any further explanation, Hawkgirl stood up and strode out of the conference room.
The Peregrine climbed swiftly but steadily, and as Hal put it through more and more of its paces, Carol finally began to relax and convince herself that this was truly going to plan. Hal had already tested the Peregrine's power, maneuverability, altitude, and drag — all of which met or bettered the standards U.S.A.F. had outlined for its design — and was about to begin the next phase of testing: speed. The Peregrine had been built to attain velocities up to Mach 1.5, and in order to reach that speed it was crucial to generate enough thrust to propel the aircraft into supersonic flight. The demands required of the engines to accomplish this required a substantial surge of fuel, even beyond what was currently being burned to sustain the Peregrine's flight, to supply the afterburners. Carol estimated that Hal had already used up one of the tanks, so the extra fuel would most likely be drawn from a secondary tank.
"Activating afterburners," Hal stated.
Even from the window of the observation deck, Carol glimpsed the bright orange glow at the rear of the Peregrine.
"So far, so good," Col. Walters commented.
That, of course, was when Hal's voice announced, "Mission control, we have a problem."
A/N: I will try to keep updates from now on semi-regular, but don't expect new chapters so soon, because I'm running out of pre-written chapters and I won't have much time to write for the next four months. I don't mean that there'll be three months between each update (heaven forbid!), but expect 2-3 weeks, maybe 4 if I forget (as I've proved I'm wont to do, with this fic).
On the bright side, your reviews do keep me going, and inspire me to find time to work on the last few chapters in between my classes and assignments and other activities. I'm not just saying that to get reviews either - hearing from my readers (especially those as detailed as dorizard) genuinely motivates me to get my ass in gear to wrap up this fic. It's textbook operational conditioning - being rewarded for something makes one continue doing that something (can you guess I'm a psychology major?).