Bialya, September 4, 10:00 AM
The sun shined in they Bialyan sky above a desert. Sand dunes stretched for miles without any sign of life save for a single boy. Hunter laid atop the slope of a sand dune. His black armor glistening in the sun.
The Amazon groaned as began to return to consciousness. He opened his blue eyes to see the blue sky. He closed spread swiped his palm over the sand before fisting it. Hunter gasped, the sand on Themyscira is much silkier than this course terrain.
Hunter quickly shot up to see where he is. He gasped when he saw he wasn't on Themyscira. He was in a desert of some kind. He quickly flew up into the sky so he could see even further distances. His heart dropped when all he saw were dunes and canyons.
"Where am I?" He wondered aloud as he slowly descended. A glaring light caused him to flinch, he looked down to see his sword and shield. Smirking he flew down and landed before his weapons, "I at least went down with a fight."
He sheathed his sword first before grabbing his shield seeing his reflection. He froze at the sight of the black and silver armor, "When did I change my armor?" He wondered before placing his shield on his back, "This is getting stranger by the minute." He said before taking to the sky.
"Someone clearly broke into my psyche." He spoke aloud to himself, "But who's strong enough to break through my mind? I trained relentlessly to block my mind from any intruders."
The more he thought about it the more questions he got rather than answers, it's maddening. He should focus less on what happened and more on how he could get home. But where is he?
Hunter closed his eyes and began to concentrate on whatever lost memories he had. He squeezed his fists in concentration as his a memory flashed in his mind.
Before him stood a man in bat costume standing in front of a map. 'Bialya is a rogue state, ruled by Queen Bee.'Gasping
Hunter exclaimed, "Bialya." He stopped his flight and looked up at the sun, "Bialya is in the Middle East, not far from home. And if the sun is rising I need to fly west." He quickly deduced before he flew away.
Before he could get far he was tackled out of the sky by a mass of muscle. Hunter only had enough time to see a pair of animalistic blue eyes before they collided on the sand. Rolling down a dune the prince quickly kicked his assailant away into another dune of sand.
Getting to his feet he squeezed his fists, ready for a fight. He looked over to see a dust cloud where his opponent landed. He was ready for any sort of monster that the cloud would reveal.
To his surprise, it was no monster at all, "You're a man."
There stood a teenage boy, he was well built like a gladiator. Hunter's never met another man before let alone one that looks like... well this. His shock was interrupted when the teenager launched himself at the Amazon. Hunter flew up and avoided the attack but the teen didn't relent. He jumped up to rip Hinter out of the sky again but this time the prince was prepared.
Hunter flew a little higher and avoided the attack before he grabbed the teen's arm. He violently swung the other around before throwing him down to the ground. Finally, on the assault, he flew down landed with his legs on either side of the teen before using his Lasso of Enticement to bind his wrists, holding him down.
"Why did you attack me?" Hunter demanded.
Opening his eyes the larger male glared at Hunter before struggling against the lasso but to no avail, "Stop." Hunter ordered but to no avail. The feral boy began to roar, "I said stop I don't want to fight you!"
The lasso shined a brilliant gold before the larger boy stopped struggling. Their blue eyes met in silence. This closely Hunter can appreciate his features, his eyes, strong jaw, and his defined muscles. His face growing red he stood up looking away.
"I'm going to untie you so please don't attack me again." He begged before he loosened the lasso.
The taller male silently stood up. The silence was unnerving but it was better than feral roars. The gazed into each other's eyes before Hunter blinked and looked away.
"What's your name?" Hunter asked carefully.
All he got as an answer was silence.
"Can you talk?"
Silence.
"Well, that figures." He whispered.
The silence was broken by a whistling sound. The teen snarled and looked up. Hunter followed his gaze just in time to see a missile crashing down on them. The explosion sent them flying in opposite directions.
Hunter crashed into a sand dune while the feral teen flew somewhere further away. The prince quickly shook off his fatigue and looked up to see what attacked them. Squinting his eyes he saw two white planes coming their way. Glaring at them he took out his sword and shield.
"Very well then." He muttered before launching into the sky leaving a cloud of sand in his wake.
As he flew closer to the planes he found that they were unmanned. They were remotely controlled which means he doesn't need to hold back. Smirking he raised his shield before picking up speed with a sonic boom. Using his shield to guard his face he rammed right through the drone.
The drone exploded behind him as he turned around to attack the second one. Chasing it as it banked left and right and when it looped up and back down he gripped his sword. In a burst of speed, he let out a war cry and swung down his sword and sliced the left wing of the drone. Hunter watched as the drone spun down to the ground below before crashing into a fiery explosion.
Watching as a pillar of smoke climbed the sky he said, "That was simple enough."
Flying down to where he stood before the attack he saw no sign of the teen, "Great, first man I meet and I misplace him." He groaned before walking atop a dune to see where he went, "Well he couldn't have gotten far." The prince mumbled before once again taking to the sky.
He must've been flying for a few hours, the sun was beginning to set giving the sky a yellow and orange tint. Hunter decided to stop before he wasted any more time. He needed to find out why he's here and why is his memory erased and he doubts that feral boy could give him any answers. For now, he needed to give up the search.
"I need to get home." Hunter decided before changing directions, "Maybe grandmother can figure out what happened to me." Anxious to get home he sped up to the point he boomed through the air.
His concentration was broken when he heard a girl's voice in his head, "Hello is anyone out there?"
Hunter stopped in his tracks and looked around. He pulled out his sword out with a hiss, "Who's there?" He demanded.
"Hunter is that you?"
Groaning he demanded, "How do you know my name?"
Darting his gaze around he found nothing. Turning around he saw a green figure fill his vision before something collided with him. They both plummeted from the sky and into the sand below.
Groaning, Hunter got to his feet. Looking around he saw a green-skinned woman getting to her feet. The hissing of steel ringed in the air as Hunter unsheathed his blade. He flew forward and pressed the tip to her throat.
"Who are you?!" He demanded.
Green eyes looked up at him in shock. The girl quickly answered, "My name is M'gann M'orzz, I'm your teammate!"
He wasn't expecting that answer, "What, that's the lousiest lie I've ever heard."
"It's the truth I swear." The martian promises.
"Yeah? Prove it." He grabbed his lasso and tossed the other end down, "Grasp it, it will reveal whether your lying or not."
M'gann took the Lasso of Enticement in hand. It began to glow a brilliant gold, "My name is M'gann M'orzz of Mars, my uncle is Martian Manhunter of the Justice League, we are teammates."
After a moment of silence, Hunter pulled back, "No one can resist the Lasso of Enticement so you must be telling the truth." He sheathed his sword, "No matter how unbelievable it sounds." He mumbled before looking up to see the Martian getting up, "Why don't I remember anything?"
"I'm not sure but it affected me as well and possibly the others." She answered.
"Others?" Hunter questioned.
"Oh yeah, our other teammates." She began to explain, "Aqualad, our leader, Robin, Kid Flash, Artemis, and Superboy."
Sidekicks to the Justice League, "I've heard of a few of them." He replied, "Have you found anyone else?"
"I did have a brief encountered with Superboy but he attacked me." She answered.
"He attacked me as well but-" The sound of an explosion caught his attention, "Someone's fighting."
"Is this a super hearing thing?" M'gann asked before Hunter flew off without a word, "I'll take that as a yes." She said before flying off after him.
They flew with haste towards the commotion only Hunter could hear. M'gann reached out with her mind to see if any of the team were close by. Hunter unsheathed his sword and shield. His armor reflected the light of the setting sun.
'We're getting close." Hunter informed, "You should check if you can contact the others."
"Right." The martian nodded, "You might want to prepare yourself." Hunter nodded.
The moment she reached out with her mind they felt Superboy's pain.
'Superboy, we have to hurry!"Whilst M'gann flew ahead Hunter withered in pain. Gripping his head as if it would split open. His mind felt like it was being torn apart.
"What are these memories?" He groaned.
He remembered the first time he saw those blue eyes open in the capsule.
When he looked up at a pair of blue eyes, "You came back, why?"
"I had a choice to make." Superboy offered his strong hand, "I chose."
Then they took out the large Genomorphs together, "You're strong." He commented.
He remembers smirking, "I know."
Then they were outside, they had just defeated Desmond, "You're free. Free to choose your own path, free to look up."
When Superboy looked up at the moon in awe he prayed to Artemis, thanking her for such a beautiful sight.
He was then walking away from the wreckage of Mr. Twister, "So tell me about Mars." He had said to M'gann.
"As long as you tell me about Themyscira." She replied.
"Deal."
Opening his eyes he quickly flew forward with a boom. Breaking the sound barrier, he's never flown so fast before. M'gann, Wally, Robin, they were his friends. Superboy may have been a little something more but he wasn't so sure. The only sure thing is that he's going to protect them.
Up ahead he saw two drones from before as well as M'gann chasing after them. Glaring at the two drones he continued to fly at top speed. Flying past M'gann within a blur he smashed right through a drone in a ball of fire. He far too fast so he collided with the sand below and skipped like a stone.
The one remaining drone fired at him. He quickly rolled onto his back and raised his shield. Bullets bounced off the shield and his shin braces. M'gann quickly came to his air and used her telekinesis to force the drone into a dive bomb.
Hunter watched as the drone plummeted into the ground in a fiery explosion. Looking up he gave M'gann a thumbs up, "Not bad."
"Come on, I've found some of the others." She informed before flying away.
Standing up he looked down at himself. He's never flown so fast before. He was never sure if he could before. Shaking off the numerous questions in his head he flew after M'gann. Following the direction she had flown off to, she found her with two other people.
Landing he recognized Wally but not the blonde girl he was with, "And uh, who's the Wonder Woman fanboy?"
"I'm Wonder Warrior, son, of Wonder Woman." He introduced himself, "And you're Wally and you're... " He trailed off looking at the blonde, "Someone I don't know."
Artemis muttered something before M'gann asked, "Wait you remember?"
"A few things up until we defeated Mr. Twister." He replied before they heard an explosion.
"Come on, I'll fill you all in as we go, Robin and Suoerboy need our help." M'gann said as they walked away.
"Of course, Robin and Super-what now?" Wally wondered.
They all paid close attention M'gann explained why they were there and how the team worked. They set up a base of operations miles away. It was nightfall when they were finally getting close.
Whatever relief Hunter had was diminished when he heard gunfire, "Gunfire up ahead." He informed before flying ahead.
Reaching the source of the gunfire he found a cloud of smoke. The sounds of men grunting and hitting the ground came from inside the cloud. Whoever was fighting the gunmen was good, to say the least. Slamming his bracelets unleashing a wave of silver energy, pushing the smoke away as well as breaking the men's guns in half.
Looking down he found more soldiers surrounding a boy in a mask, "Robin." He whispered before diving from the sky.
Using his lasso he wrapped a man before fling him into a group of other soldiers. They all took out hunting knives but a black blur zoomed by them disarming them. Everyone looked back to see their knives in a pile by Kid Flash's feet.
"Mind if I take these?" He teased before speeding away.
In a blur, Wally knocked four men off their feet. The speedster turned around and jumped up to deliver a dropkick to another. One was about to pounce on Hunter before he was launched into the air by an invisible force, M'gann appeared the sky before dropping the man.
A group of soldiers ran for their knives but before they could an arrow at them. The arrow burst into a net entangling the men. Before they could cut their way out Robin approached them before dropping a pellet. The pellet exploded releasing a cloud of knock out gas.
"KF!" Robin exclaimed approaching his friend, "Man is it good to see a familiar face." He said before locking in a bro hug.
"Hey, Rob. Memory loss?" The ginger asked.
"Six months! Let's hogtie these creeps and compare notes." The boy wonder suggested.
Now with Robin, Hunter and M'gann explained everything. Hunter told them of what happened in Independence Day, about Cadmus, Superboy, and the formation of the team. M'gann told them of everything after. But without their memories, they still felt like they missed something.
"So we're a team?" Robin asked digesting all this information.
"The five of us and Superboy." M'gann replied.
"Then this must be his." The boy wonder said holding up a piece of ripped fabric.
Quickly taking it in hand Hunter saw that it was indeed Superboy's, "It is. Did you see him?" He hastily asked.
"I think we did." Artemis stated.
"Feral boy? Some teammate he attacked us." Wally scoffed.
"He didn't know who were are." The blonde reminded, "I don't know who we are!"
"I remember Batman ordered radio silence." Robin informed, "Our team must work for him!"
"How do you know we don't work for my mentor." Wally replied touching his emblem changing the colors of his suit from all black to yellow and red, "Woah, this is so cool." He gushed.
Everyone else tried to do the same but nothing happened, "We look ridiculous!" Artemis exclaimed as Wally continued to change the colors of his suit, "Quit touching yourself!" She snapped.
"That came out wrong." Hunter chimed in before groaning, "Great now I sound like him." He nodded to Wally.
"Hey!" Wally snapped.
"We need our memories back." Artemis stated.
A sudden flash of light engulfed them end they were no longer in the desert. The four of them stood in a room of purple with windows that showed images of themselves. A being of our light appeared before them.
"I brought you into my mind to share what I remembered so far. But I need your help." M'gann's voice echoed in the room. The light revealed to be her with a hood, "Together, our broken memories can form a whole if you open your minds to mine."
"You want to paw through our private thoughts?" Artemis asked defensively.
"I have no wish to I intrude-"
"You need to hack into our minds grok what happened to us. Got it, go." Robin agreed.
"If this is what gives up back our memories then I'm all for it." Hunter agreed.
"My brain's all yours. Don't let its brilliance overwhelm you." Wally states boastfully causing Hunter to roll his eyes.
"Or underwhelm you. Hey, why isn't anyone just whelmed?" Robin began to wonder.
Hunter groaned, "Oh no not this again just do it."
Despite everyone else's agreement Artemis still hesitated. Wally came to her side and gave her hand a reassuring squeeze. The two exchanged a look before the blonde faced M'gann, "The last six months and only what you need."
Together they watched each others memories while peicing their own together, "The watchtower detected an immense power surge in the bialyan desert." They sawBatman speak to them in the mission room, "Spectral analysis revealed elements non-terrestrial in origin. Find out what happened at that site, what landed there." They all stood together, "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." The Dark Knight ordered.
They went from the cave to the desert,
"You'll land in Kourak on Bialya's border. Two clicks from the hot zone."
"All clear." Robin informed the team.
Through Robin's eyes, they saw the team walking out of the Bioship.
Another flash, they stood in Wally's perspective, they stood over their target, "The Byalians control the site." Artemis informed.
"Set up here." A voice echoed.
They watched as Superboy set down a machine with Hunter's help.
A third flash and they looked through Artemis' eyes, "We'll be up and running in no time." Robin informed.
"Jack pot! The sites lousy with Zeta-Beam radiation." Wally stated.
"I'll check it out in camouflage mode." M'gann suggested.
"I'll back you up in case something bad happens." Hunter suggested.
"Be careful." Superboy said.
"And maintain telepathic contact." Kaldur reminded.
"I will Aqualad."
Everyone's eyes shot open, "Aqualad!"
"Where is he what happened next?" Robin asked.
"I don't know that's the last I... we remember." She replied.
"Look for Kaldur." Hunter ordered before he flew off. Everyone watched as the prince broke the sound barrier.
"What's he doing?" Artemis asked.
Now with what he remembers he flew towards the site. No matter the cast he has to save Superboy. Whatever made him lose his memories won't work again. He has his mind shut and aware of the threat.
Seeing the tent in the distance he saw the soldiers guard it like a fortress. Drawing his sword and shield he flew over them. He could hear Superboy's cries of pain. Landing behind the tent he found a generator, no doubt powering whatever they got Superboy strapped onto.
With his shield, he smashed the generator cutting off all the power. The lights around the site went dead leaving them all in darkness. With his sword, he sliced the tent open and got in. He followed the source of panting and found Superboy strapped to a slab.
"It's ok, Superboy I'm here now." He whispered reassuringly.
"You say that as if it will help him."
Turning around he saw only darkness. He raised his sword, "Who are you?" He demanded.
"Psimon says forget!"
When M'gann finally found the site she found it in darkness. Everyone was scrambling to fix the generator. Going into Camouflage Mode she descended into the tent. The soldiers attached flashlights to their guns shooting light around the site.
Lights darted in and out of the tent revealing Hunter frozen in place, "Hunter?"
Putting a hand on his shoulder she was consumed by light causing her to flinch. When her vision adjusted she found herself in a different place. Immediately she realized where she was, Hunter's mindscape. A searing scream echoed through the whole place.
Looking up she saw a Hunter in a bubble of golden energy, "Magic is quite the defense but it will soon give into Psimon."
"Hunter!" M'gann exclaimed flying to his aid creating a psychic shield.
Psimon chuckled, "Is she supposed to save you, this novice?"
"Are you alright?" She asked as she blocked another blast.
"I'm alright, my mind is protected by magic but it can't take much more of this." He answered before glaring at Simon, "So how are we gonna do this?"
"We're not." M'gann replied before mentally pushing Hunter out of the psyche.
Stumbling on his feet Hunter gathered himself to find that he stood inside the now lit tent. The flaps of the tent were pushed open to reveal a squadron of soldiers. Hunter quickly took his shield in hand and blocked the fury of bullets. Looking up he found the near translucent form of M'gann.
Stepping forward between M'gann and the soldiers he unsheathed his sword, "Seems you boys can't take a hint." He said before flying forward, swinging his sword down in a silver crescent.
Opening his eyes Superboy noticed a small object floating a fee inches away from his face. Looking around he used infrared vision to see M'gann floating in the air. Across from her stood Psimon, his anger flared at the sight of the villain. His pulse quickening, his heart monitor beeping in indication.
The sphere began to spin as if tandem with Superboy's hear monitor. The sphere broke from breaking through a group of soldiers. Colliding with Superboy's binds, breaking free from his binds he landed on the ground. Lunging at the villain he swung his fist only to be met with a shield of psychic energy. Stumbling back he nudged M'gann.
Blinking he found himself within the mental battle between Psimon and Miss Martian.
M'gann seemed alarmed by his sudden appearance before looking relieved, "You're here!" She exclaimed.
Psimon chuckled tauntingly, "You sound so relieved. Is that mindless creature suppose to save your mind?"
"No." She answered before placing his head in her hands and touched foreheads with him, "I save his!"
Superboy's sight became consumed with visions and flashed.
Opening his eyes for the first time and see the team for the first time. See him.
He remembers when Hunter told him, "A home is where you feel you belong, not where you're controlled."
Looking up at the moon for the first time, "You're free now, free to choose your own path. Free to look up."
"My name is Hunter, Hunter Prince."
Hunter that's what his name was.
He remembers arguing with Hunter about joining the others on the Bioship.
The stinging in his cheek felt fresh. Hunter had slapped him, hard. "I won't leave, I won't abandon you, we're a team. Like it or not I'm sticking by you, I'll fight by your side. I won't leave you."
"Together."
Sitting alone during the feast at Themyscira. The way his thumb felt rubbing his skin, "You're my people too."
Standing on the roof, underneath the stars, "You belong too, on earth, in the cave, with the team, with. . ."
"With you?"
He remembers he was going to do something that night but he doesn't know what.
He sees the blood pouring out from Hunter's wound and feels the panic all over again. See him close his eyes hoping that it wasn't the last time he would see them.
Staying by his bedside for days not leaving for a second. And when he finally woke up, the relief he felt when he engulfed the prince in his arms, "I am so sorry I worried you."
The last thing he remembers is how warm Hunter felt on the flight back to the cave. Wonder Woman had decided he was in no condition to pilot anything. Hunter remained at his side the entire time.
Hunter is kind.
He is so wise.
So funny even when he doesn't try to be.
His sense of compassion.
His deep love for everyone and everything that earth has to offer.
He wonders what that feels like.
Coming back to reality he looked up at the martian and smirked, "Kick his butt." He said before being pulled out of the mindscape.
Hunter took down one soldier after another. Deflecting their bullets back he destroyed their guns and used his lasso to throw the nearby machines their way. His sword only appeared as a silver crescent as he swung it around, cutting guns in half, deflecting bullets.
"This is hardly a challenge." Hunter taunted tilting his head to avoid a bullet from behind.
Spinning around to face whoever attacked him he saw a large sphere mowing down a group of soldiers including the one who shot at him. The sphere rolled around to face him.
"Thank you." He said bewildered.
Spinning in place in reply the sphere rolled away towards even more soldiers. Shrugging in confusion he flew out of the tent to stop any soldier who wanted to enter. He came face to face with a whole battalion of men. When they fired he flew into the air keeping their fire away from the tent.
Shield in hand he flew down like a meteor towards a truck with a mounted turret. When he landed he broke the truck in two. With his strength, he flipped both pieces over. Flying across the campsite he used the shield to mowed down any who dared get in his way.
Flipping forward he delivered a dropkick to a soldier in blinding speed. The soldier flew across the base before being caught by someone. Hunter landed on his feet and saw who it was. A grin broke out on his face.
"Superboy!" He exclaimed as the clone tossed the soldier over his shoulder, "Are you ok?"
When the clone smiled back Hunter knew that he had gotten his memories back. Flying forward in a blur he tackled Superboy in a hug. The clone's feet skidded across the sand as he wrapped his arms around the prince.
Blue eyes looked up at Superboy's face, "Is it really you?"
Superboy's face turned to a scowl, confusing Hunter. The clone let Hunter go before shoving him out of the way before a flurry of bullets began to bounce off Superboy's body. Hunter glared at the soldiers before dashing forwards.
"We were having a moment!" He exclaimed before slamming his bracelets together and unleashing a pulse of white energy sending everyone flying.
Turning around he saw Superboy walking away from a pile of unconscious soldiers. Before they could be within arms distance of each other a grey blur past between them. Following the blur, they saw the sphere knocking down a soldier who held a pistol.
Superboy looked at Hunter, "Can we keep it?"
The ball rolled around in place as if in excitement, "Sure why not." He shrugged.
Suddenly the tent flew up in the sky. Both heroes looked back to see M'gann and Psimon locked in a telepathic battle. Everything from the soldiers to their trucks blew away even the sphere got caught up in the whirlwind.
"We have to help M'gann!" Superboy yelled over the wind.
Before Hunter replied he heard the roaring of jet engines. Three more drones we're flying their way. The prince looked at the clone and said, "You help her I'll take care of the drones!" He then flew off sword in hand.
Flying after the source of the roaring engines. In the distance, he saw the three drones approaching. They began to fire a swarm of bullets towards him but he used his shield to block them. The drones flew by him and began to turn around.
Hunter quickly flew upward dodging another flurry of bullets. A second drone fired a missile at him. Wonder Warrior took his lasso in hand and ensnared the missile and used the momentum to swing it towards another drone. The two other drones flew towards him in opposite directions and began to fire. With a smile, Hunter dropped down and the two drones gunned each other down I'm balls of fire.
"Too easy." He chuckled before flying back towards the base where he saw M'gann and Superboy flying towards him with the sphere trailing behind them on the ground, "Mission complete?"
M'gann shrugged, "Almost, still got to give Kaldur his memories."
"Oh, I forgot about that!" Hunter exclaimed.