Sylvia Wayne "Wildcat"
The Cave
October 1st, 2010
Wally, Artemis and I were in the kitchen, eating sandwiches at the glass table. For once, Wally was silent while Artemis and I were talking about interesting take downs we've had in our respective cities. To aid in her cover story, she actually Zetas to Star city and goes on Patrol with Green Arrow. We finally started comparing notes on redundant villains when Wally finally jumped in. Talking about Captain Cold stealing ice on the Fourth of July. After we finally finished our sandwiches, we decided to get up and get back to training. As we walked, I picked up a conversation between Kaldur and Robin from across the room.
"You know they're a couple, right?" Robin said, referring to M'gann and Superboy who were entering the training room with Wolf following closely behind them. I was nearly worried they were talking about Wally and I, but neither of us have spoken to each other since the night of the Homecoming dance. It seemed neither of us knew exactly how to behave around one another now that it was confirmed that the two of us felt the same way.
"I believe I knew before they did." Kaldur smiled as he spoke softly, his eyes carefully following the two before settling on Artemis.
"Do we tell them?" Robin seemed interested in bursting the bubble since Wally usually never stops flirting with M'gann and Artemis obviously thinks Superboy is attractive. But it's been different since homecoming. He hasn't flirted with her since the mission to India, but we haven't really talked, or have even been alone together since then either.
"It's not our place." Kaldur said quietly as Wally, Artemis and I approached the two who had just finished their training.
"So if Zatara is our babysitter of the week, why's he still here? And why's he eating my snacks?" Wally exclaimed as we all noticed Captain Marvel eating an energy bar while standing next to Zatara. Him as our den mother has been… interesting. The computer and Zeta Tube activated, drawing all of our attention.
Recognized:
Batman 02.
"Computer, national news." Batman said quickly as he marched into the center of the Cave. A massive holoscreen appeared, showing us the famous reporter Cat Grant, live in Metropolis.
"The initial attack was short-lived, but Metropolis was only granted a short reprieve." She began as the scene switched to an aerial view of a massive plant. It crushed an entire building to dust as she began reporting once again. "And despite the intervention of Superman and the Justice League, there seems to be no end in sight." She reported as a clip of Superman, Hawkwoman, and Green Lantern rolled. They were fighting the plant creature as it just continued to fight back.
"Should we get out there?" Robin asked as Batman paused the footage. I felt Wally stand next to me, his taught shoulder brushing with mine.
"No. The League will soon have the situation under control. That's not why I'm here." He paused and image of Sportsmaster appearing on the screen. "According to your intel, Sportsmaster supplied Cadmus' blockbuster formula to Kobra." Batman began leaving enough of a gap for us to pick up the trail.
"Who combined it with Bane's venom to create Kobra venom." Wally reminded us as the gears started turning among the group.
"Which the brain used to create his animal army." Robin added, picking up the pieces.
"And upgrade wolf." Superboy smiled as he scratched Wolf under the chin.
"The Brain also used inhibitor collars like the ones at the penitentiary." M'gann added, knowing that all of the details couldn't just be coincidences. I began shifting on my feet, not just from the tension with Wally, but from the stress of everything we're putting together from every single mission we've been on.
"Batman, is it possible that plant thing's on Kobra venom, too?" Artemis asked, her demeanor just as worried as mine. The two of us were the only ones visibly on edge. The others seemed more into the process of putting two and two together about the coincidences.
"I had Green Lantern run a spot analysis. The vine cellulose does contain trace amounts of a Kobra venom variant." Batman explained as he showed us all a molecular mapping of the sample taken from the plant. I was pretty sure that Wally and maybe Robin and I were able to really understand the model.
"These cannot be coincidences, unrelated criminals are cooperating with one another worldwide." Kaldur finally spoke what I was sure everyone else was thinking. I looked over and saw Robin typing on the holocomputer. I wasn't exactly sure what he was doing, but I just focused on the briefing.
"Exactly. It's now clear our enemies have formed some kind of secret society of super villains.
The attack on Metropolis is only the beginning." Batman spoke in all seriousness, his voice lowering an octave.
"You got that right." Robin said as I realized he was surfing the internet for news updates having to do with the plants. "Plant creatures have sprouted in Gotham city, Paris, Star City, Taipei-" He was putting up footage of all of the cities at once before every screen went to static, confusing everyone in the room.
"Dude." Wally said as Robin tried to fix it.
"It's not me. Someone's cutting in the satellite signal." He tried to fix it, trying to hack back against the disturbance in connection but a surprised look rolled across his face. "All satellite signals." He reported as Batman whipped around to look at the screens. Suddenly, every screen flickered until we were looking at five identical closeups of the Joker with his massive and devious grin. My heart skipped a beat, and not in a good way. He reached up and tapped the camera. I took in a sharp breath, Wally closing the gap between us and holding my hand discretely.
"Ladies and gentlemen, we interrupt your regularly scheduled mayhem to bring you this important announcement," He spoke in a deeply hushed tone as he pulled out a switchblade, the camera panning out to six others, "from the Injustice League." He couldn't stop himself from chuckling, chills running down my spine.
"We are responsible for the attacks on your cities." The blonde man in the middle spoke with a thick eastern European accent. I recognized him as Count Vertigo of Vlatava, the villain every hero hated due to him having diplomatic immunity. But that will only last for so long if he does commits treason of Vlatavan soil. "If you wish to save them, a ransom of ten billion American dollars is required. Delivery instructions have been sent to the United Nations. There is no time limit. But the longer your governments wait…" He trailed off, the Joker grabbing the camera and pulling it to view him once again.
"The more we get to have our... jollies." The Joker said before he fell into a laughter, the signal cutting back to static. Batman tapped his comm, receiving a message from the Justice League.
"Roger that, Aquaman. The UN will prepare the ransom as a fallback, but it won't come to that." Batman stated to himself as Robin rewound the video, pausing on the villains.
"Count Vertigo, The Joker, Poison Ivy, Ultra-Humanite, Atomic Skull, Black Atom, Wotan.
7 heavy hitters." Robin informed us all as the computer recognized them. This was nearly unheard, villains working together across the board.
"Probably behind everyone and everything we've faced." I remarked in a low tone, glaring at the still Poison Ivy. She and the Joker were the Arkham escapees that interrupted Wally and I and the Homecoming dance.
"There's your secret society." Wally commented, squeezing my hand before nonchalantly letting go.
"Not so secret anymore." Artemis added, glaring at the screen of villains.
"Perhaps after India they realized we would deduce the truth and saw no point in hiding any longer." Kaldur rationalized, but I didn't think it added up. None of the criminals on the screen seemed capable of carrying out some of the aspects that we've come across in our time as a team, and it definitely doesn't explain Cadmus or the League of Shadows.
"Yeah, that was their mistake. Right now I say we go kick some plant creature butt." Wally was trying to get everyone pumped and out of our state of worry and confusion, he even put his fist to his hand, like he was ready for anything that was thrown at him.
"The Justice League will handle the plants. I have a different job for this team." Batman quickly shut him down, but I was beginning to see what he was sending us into.
"Oh, man." Wally was disappointed, but Artemis and I had the same thought, both of us elbowing him.
"With the plants attacking so many locations simultaneously, there must be a central control system. Your mission is to destroy it." Batman said, Robin and my eyes widening at his words. We seemed to be the only one's besides Zatare to recognize what we were about to do.
"You realize what you're really asking them to do." Zatara seemed nervous about sending us in.
"They're ready." Batman said simply, and I couldn't help but question his authority.
"You really think we're ready to take on some of the most ruthless and violent villains on this planet?" I pointed to the screen as I raised my eyebrows, my eyes still hanging wide. Everyone else was finally catching on, becoming just as nervous as I was.
"Well, Batman, I trust you're correct." Zatare seemed just as nervous as we were.
"I trust you can locate the enemy." Batman used Zatara's words, but I knew from experience that he did mean them.
"Indeed. Wotan's informants suggest sorcery is part of how the plants are controlled." Zatara seemed wary but we knew he was more than capable of finding the control centers. "Robin, if you will provide a holo-map, I'll search for signs of concentrated sorcerous activity." Zatara politely ordered Robin, a holographic earth suddenly taking shape in the center of the room. "Etacol retnecipe fo yrecros!" His voice suddenly became powerful, echoing all over the cave. Suddenly, a red pinpoint appeared on the holomap in the southeastern United States. "There. That is where you will find the Injustice League's central control system." Zatara confirmed, positive of his capabilities. I was surprised that Wally wasn't making some comment about magic not being real and that the Justice League already knew where the epicenter was, but he remained silent, his shoulder brushing mine.
"Coordinates locked in. The Louisiana bayou." Robin confirmed for the rest of us.
"We are on our way." Kaldur stated as we all ran to suit up, not wasting a single second.
Bayou Bartholomew, Louisiana
It wasn't long before we were closing in on the coordinates, the sun setting in the distance, coating everything in sight with hues of pink and orange. We had Wolf in the back of the Bioship, sitting behind Superboy. Everyone had their computer consoles before them as we all kept tabs of the News reports about the plants. Kid Flash and I were sitting next to each other, sharing music while he ate a banana.
"What's in the duffel?" Kid asked Aqualad as Robin checked his programable disks. I, too, noticed the duffle bag at Aqualad's feet. None of us saw what he put in the bag, but not everyone really wanted to question our fearless leader at a time like this.
"Plan B." He said plainly. M'gann suddenly let out pained sighed, putting a hand to her head.
"You all right?" Superboy immediately asked.
"Dizzy." She said, looking to the Kryptonian.
"Martians get airsick?" Robin asked as everyone turned to our pilot.
"She does look a bit greener than usual." Kid remarked, but I just elbowed him in the side.
"Not me, her." M'gann corrected, looking at the floor.
"I feel fine." Artemis and I replied at the same time, both looking at eachother like one of us might be lying.
"Not you two, the Bioship." M'gann's eyes grew wide. "She's trying to shield us, but-" M'gann was cut off as the ship spun out of control, slipping out of camouflage mode. I glanced outside the window as I braced for impact, seeing Count Vertigo and Black Adam. I noticed Vertigo say something, Black Adam suddenly flying high into the air and punching the Bioship, sending us hurtling into the bog below. We all exhaled as we stopped crashing. Superboy was holding onto Wolf and KF was holding onto me. We both shared a look before we pushed apart. Suddenly, the ship began to sink as vines shot out of the water, taking hold of us and pulling the ship under. Black Adam ripped a hole in the top of the hull, causing M'gann to scream.
"He's hurting her!" She shouted just before Superboy punched him, sending him flying away from the ship, but the plants kept pulling us under, water gushing in from the breach. Robin and I immediately pulled rebreathers out of our tool belts. I pulled out an extra one for Wally and handed it to him as Artemis complained.
"No. No way I'm nearly drowning three missions in a row." She stated as she pulled out her own, sticking it into her mouth.
"M'gann, we need to get out. Open a hatch." Superboy finally got our resident Martian's attention.
"Hello, M'gann. Of course."M'gann shifted to have gills, swimming below and finally opening a hatch.
"Out. Everyone out." Aqualad ordered as he was the only one able to speak under water. We all swam the best we could, following Aqualad's lead before walking out onto the shore of the bog. We all watched from the trees as the plant creature pulled the ship below.
"She's in shock. She'll need time to recover." M'gann said before a wave of pain and disorientation washed over me. Everyone was screaming and crying out as we all crumbled to the ground.
"Vertigo." Kid exclaimed as he he was the only one able to resist as much as he was.
"Count Vertigo to you, peasant." Vertigo corrected him, his neurological transmitter still discombobulating the rest of us. Superboy got up, but Black Adam knocked him onto his back. Aqualad though quickly on his feet, using his water bearers to blast the Count away into the treeline.
Robin, Miss Martian, disappear. We will keep them busy. You two fulfill the mission objective. Aqualad ordered as I shared a look with my brother. I could have been ordered to go with them, seeing as I have been trained with the art of stealth, but I guess it makes sense since it would be less noticeable at first if only two were to disappear. Aqualad turned back around, only to be punched in the face by Adam. But Wolf attacked Adam as the rest of us recovered from Vertigo. But Adam threw Wolf at us. The massive canine knocked over Artemis and Wally, but I quickly dove out of the way. I charged Adam and used my agility to dodge his blow, ejecting my claws and ranking them across his face. It only seemed to blind him for a moment as I backed up and gave him a swift kick to the head, sending him onto his back. I pounced onto him, my instincts taking over. I almost tried to dig my claws into his throat, but I was knocked away by Vertigo, my hands going to my head as Adam grabbed my leg and flung me into the ground. I blacked out as Vertigo spoke.
"Two are missing." He snapped.
"They awaken." I heard as I opened my eyes to a golden, glowing cage. I was sprawled out on the floor of it, my legs draped over an unconscious Kid Flash. "You're certain this will hold them?" I recognized the voice as Count Vertigo. He must be standing atop the cage.
"The cage is impenetrable. Even the Superboy has no chance of escaping." I looked out and saw Wotan, using his mystic might to contain us. But when I checked the bars, I realized how stupid they really were. Once again, my dainty frame would prove useful in escape. I silently pushed myself behind Wolf, hiding from obvious sight.
"You are not the only one trained in the mystic arts, Wotan." I heard Aqualad say as he tried to use his Atlantean sorcery to free us, but it failed.
"Please, Atlantean, do not pretend you're in my League." Wotan bragged as we flew. I peaked under and saw Black Adam, supporting the extra weight of the cage for Wotan. He had his back to me, so I took the opportunity to turn sideways, getting my shoulders through as I squeezed the rest of myself through, it not being as bad as during the Red Fiasco. In complete silence, I gave an awakening Kid Flash a look, mouthing the words, I'll be back, before silently dropping back from the cage, free falling to the trees. The wind rushed past my ears as I zoned in on the trees, easing my decent but grabbing hold and swinging, using my momentum to leap from tree to tree, following the cage with my advantage of freedom. As I followed the cage, I passed Robin and M'gann, sharing a single look with them as I pursued to ensure the safety of the others. Out of no where, the Bioship slammed into Wotan, distracting him long enough for the cage to dissipate. Everyone fell from the sky, landing in the mud below. Black Adam caught Count Vertigo, but that apparently was the wrong choice.
"Not me! Stop those delinquents." He ordered the superhuman as he safely descended the fragile human.
"I hate monkeys." I heart Superboy say as he and Wolf attacked Ultra Humanite. Poison Ivy was willing plants to attack Artemis and Aqualad. They both reached for their weapons before Artemis groaned, finding her bow and quiver missing.
"I feel naked. And not in a fun way." Artemis complained, making me laugh as I charged Vertigo with Kid Flash.
"We will make our own fun, as we have been trained. Maneuver 7." Aqualad said as he locked his hands together, launching Artemis high into the air so she can attack Ivy. Vertigo tried to slow Kid and I down, but I reached for the ground and flung warm, wet mud in his face, distracting him while Kid sped in for the attack, but Black Adam swatted him away like he was nothing before grabbing me and throwing me in the same direction. I slammed into a tree and crumbled to the ground.
"Where are Robin and the Martian?" Vertigo asked as Aqualad and Artemis fought Ivy. but she stopped in her tracks.
"My baby." She gasped, everyone seeing the giant plant antenna lit up like a Christmas tree. The red lights turned green as the explosives primed. The second the blew, the plant fell, screeching as it burned. M'gann and Robin stood before the flames, completely nonchalant about their victory.
"Timber." Robin said simply with his arms crossed. Ivy screamed and went to attack them with vines, but M'gann shredded them with her telekinesis. But Robin and M'gann were chased off the dome as Atomic Skull fired at them with his energy. I pulled myself out of the mud and sprinted for the Joker, digging my claws into the side of the building to climb up at an alarming speed.
"Children? Children foiled our plan?" Joker questioned as I climbed. "Inconceivable. Unacceptable! Retributionable! That last one might not be a word. So sue me." His voice flip flopped from angry and serious to joking and hysterical as I charged him.
"Kill them. Kill them all." Count Vertigo ordered as I tackled Joker, digging my claws into his arms as I dragged him off the roof and back down into the bog.
"You're so adorable, Kitten! Would be a shame if someone were to hurt that pretty little head of your's!" Joker laughed as he pulled out a knife. Everyone was fighting for their lives around me as I duked it out with the Joker. I shredded parts of his suit as he pulled out dueling switch blades, swinging them at me savagely as he laughed.
"Enough!" Wotan yelled, energy exploding from him. One by one, we all went down as electricity flowed through us. Joker laughed as I could no longer bite back the pain. I fell to my knees, shrieking as memories flooded my mind. I clawed at my throat, suddenly feeling like I was drowning as I panicked. The higher and more shrill my scream became, the more the Joker got irritated, shoving his hand over my mouth as he shoved me deeper into the mud, pulling out his knife again. He was just about to jam it into my side when Aqualad did something unexpected.
"The helmet of Fate." Wotan marveled as he stopped electrocuting us. I threw Joker off of my and grabbed his arm, throwing him to Count Vertigo.
"No, Aqualad, don't!" I heard Kid yell as Aqualad put on the golden helmet. Black Adam punched kid into a tree, the impact making a horrible crack.
"Kid!" I screamed, running over to him through the mud as a golden light flashed, Aqualad becoming Doctor Fate.
"Oh, dude." Kid said with worry as he got up, looking at Aqualad. I touched his arm as he clutched it, him wincing in pain.
"Wotan, you are mine." Doctor Fate said in an octave even lower and more nerve racking than Batman. The two of them began duking it out above as I checked Kid's arm. I looked over at Robin and saw the Joker.
"Wonderboy, you are mine." Joker imitated Doctor Fate before laughing and swinging his knife. Robin dodging the blows with flips and ducks. "Always wanted to carve this bird." He said in a deep voice as he attacked my little brother.
"Artemis! Help Kid!" I told her as I ran to Robin. She nodded and took my place as I charged the clown. He pulled out another knife and ran after my little Robin. The battle went on around me as I put myself between Robin and The Joker, one of his knives piercing my shoulder, but it was just soft tissue. No serious damage.
"How dare you, Kitty? I just wanted my Thanksgiving!" He laughed looking past me at Robin as I ducked back, dodging another slash of his knife. Robin went to help M'gann as I kept Joker from going after him, slashing my claws at him, managing to draw blood on his cheek and arm.
"Maybe I'll carve you!" I shocked myself with that statement as my instincts took over. I pounced on him, pressing my claws into his neck as I drew back my other hand for another blow. Blood was pouring from his neck as I raked my claws across his chest. But I was quickly distracted by the intervention of the Justice League above. Joker plunged one of the knives into my abdomen as he stood up. I stopped cold, my eyes wide as he twisted the knife inside of me, the pain excruciating. He leaned in and whispered, "I got you to lose control again, he'll be so disappointed." His laughter roared in my ears as my father pulled him off of me. I looked up at the entire Justice League as I grew weaker, my hand lightly touching the twisted knife in the left side of my abdomen. I watched off to the side as the villains crowded into circle as the League surrounded them.
"It's over." Batman stated. He didn't even notice the knife, the clown being too close to me for the handle to be visible.
"There will be another day." I heard Vertigo surrender as I staggered over to where I saw Kid. He was distracted, looking at the villains in the center.
"Another day? Another day? There will be another day! Not for any of us." Joker yelled, finally in his kamikaze mode. He roared in laughter as each slow step became labored as I pushed on for Wally. Blood was seeping out of the plugged wound, bit by bit.
"Joker venom spores! Don't breathe!" Batman yelled as he punched the Joker, knocking him out as gas poured into the air.
"Fear not. Fate has intervened." Doctor Fate said as he absorbed to fumes into his golden Ankh. The second I stumbled, falling to the mud, Superman caught me, the only one fast enough to get there before I went face first into the mud.
"Cat!" I heard Kid yell as he ran over to me.
"Wildcat?" He questioned me as I groaned in pain. He turned me around, finally seeing the knife plugging up wound in my abdomen. "Batman!" He called, laying me down on my back as other heroes rounded up the villains. I kept my hand on the knife as Superman went to pull it out. I shook my head as my father rushed over.
"Let him take it out." Batman said to me before giving me this look. It wasn't disappointment, like I was afraid of, but worry. I felt KF slip my hand into his as the others were forced to ignore me, taking care of the villains. I noticed my father share a look with the man of steel before his gloved hand covered my mouth. I tried not to scream as Superman removed the knife. But I wasn't as successful when he decided to use his heat vision to cauterize it. The second I was sat up, Wally stormed off to Aqualad.
"What were you thinking? How could you let him put on the helmet? Nabu will never release him will be trapped inside Doctor Fate forever." Wally looked down as Superman helped me up.
"X-ray vision let me know that it didn't puncture anything vital, but you were bleeding internally. Now that it's cauterized, you should be fine until you get back to the Cave's Medical Center." Superman promised as I watched Wally, he was upset with the belief that Aqualad was gone forever. After a moment of silence, the Lanterns flying away with the villains, Doctor Fate reached up and pulled of the helmet. In a flash of light, it was Aqualad again.
"Nabu let you go?" I heard Wally whisper, a smile now on his face.
"He almost did not, but your friend Kent was most helpful. He says hello." Aqualad smiled.
"We're done here." Batman got everyone's attention. "The super villain secret society has been neutralized. As for your performance, it was satisfactory." Batman graded us and for once, it wasn't a good job or there's still room for improvement. I smiled weakly as Wally and I shared a look. Today was one of our most important tests, and we passed despite some major setbacks.
Author's Note: I have finally received a review! Thank you so much! But if you guys reading this could, please review! It would be most helpful!
-thegirlwhoisstillwaiting