A flash of crimson and gold pierced the darkness of the night like a rush
of lightning. Impulse, The Lad of Lightning, raced through the streets of
Gotham City, his mind set on one goal, one mission. Defying the very laws
of physics themselves, he sprinted up the sides of buildings and zoomed
across the river, searching for one individual, one sole person.
For some finding one single person inside The Midnight Kingdom would be too arduous a task. But for one who could circumnavigate the globe in the blink of an eye, the order was a little less difficult.
"C'monc'monc'monwhereareyouyou'renotthemwhoopssorry..." His words were as his thoughts; incoherent. But his goal was clear, and his path was set.
"Wherewherewherewherewherewherewhere..." He searched and searched at a pace that can only be described as blinding. So it is no surprise that very little catches the young hero off guard.
Running atop a building, Impulse was caught of guard by a living shadow in his path. The shadow gazed at him, an obvious question on its face: What do you want?
Impulse paused in his tracks, an inquisitive look on his face. For a brief second, he had forgotten what his goal was. Suddenly, like a light bulb, his goal came back to his mind, as he glanced at an instant pace at the paper and back at the shadow standing before him.
"Uh...." he said. "I know this sounds weird, but Robin told me to tell you to come with me."
The shadow cocked its head to one side, perplexed.
************************************
The air inside the secret headquarters of Young Justice could only be compared to that of a graveyard. Lying on the ground, insides torn open and strewn about, was their mentor, the android known as Red Tornado. He lay motionless, deactivated. Standing above him, clad in black, was the one known as Lady Shiva. Her face was masked by an ancient artifact known as the mask of the Tengu, the Bat God. A shroud of death was cast upon her, as the Devil himself seemed to reside in her shadow.
If any could see her face, they would have seen a smile of sinister intent.
The team stood poised, ready for action. Shiva, however, seemed oblivious to their presence. She was, instead, transfixed on one person in particular.
"Greetings, `Wonder Girl'," she said. Her voice was as cold as ice, chilling Wonder Girl to her very core. The young heroin inched back, terrified.
Shiva proceeded forward, striding confidently, calmly, towards her prey. "Did I not tell you I would strike you where you thought you would be most safe?" Her steps echoed through the silence of the room like a death knell.
"Now wait just one minute," Superboy said, moving in front of her path. "What makes you think that you can just..."
*POW!*
Shiva struck Superboy with a devastating blow. The Teen of Tomorrow doubled over, gasping for breath.
"That...*cough* was a....*cough cough* cheep...shot..." Blood sprayed out as he coughed, barely managing to find the strength to speak his mind before collapsing to the ground.
"KON!" Wonder Girl screamed. She tried to advance, but fear kept her from even moving to save herself. Shiva advanced forward.
"I've had enough," Empress said darkly. "Stop." She extended her hand, and, if by some magic, Shiva ceased her advance.
"Impressive," she said cooly. "That is indeed a formidable trick you are using. Voodoun, is it not? Indeed, impressive." Before anyone could blink, Empress was lying on the ground, cradling her shattered arm. Shiva stood above, not even breathing heavily.
"It's a shame I've already encountered it before." Shiva advanced forward.
"THINK YOU CAN HURT MY FRIENDS, DO YOU?!?" A voice cried from the everywhere and nowhere at once. A vortex of smoke surrounding Shiva, bladed tendrils lashing out every which way.
"I don't intend to hurt your friends, so long as they stay out of my way."
"DO YOU THINK WE'RE THAT STUPID?!?" The voice from the smoke screamed.
"No, I KNOW you're that stupid." Shiva reached into a small pouch, pulling out a set of small metal spheres. She launched them inside the smoke. Electricity leapt from the orbs, coursing through the clouds. An inhuman screech emanated, as a girl composed of mist fell to the cold hard ground.
"So, you are Secret I take it," Shiva said, crouching down at her twitching victim. "It was a good thing I came prepared for you." Standing back to her feet, she walked forward, no longer abated.
*Not even one minute. Not even one minute. Not even one minute. Not even one minute. Not even....*
The same thought echoed over and over and over in Wonder Girl's head as she found herself face to face with the woman that could have possibly killed her mentor. She tried to act brave, as if unafraid.
"Are you ready now?" Shiva asked her. "Are you ready to die?"
*****************************
"FRAGGIN' GREAT!!!" Lobo swore as he circled the complex. "Place is locked tighter than my....."
"Wha?" He responded to his cycle's whining. "Yeah yeah, I KNOW I could just blast my way in. Ain't no problem for the Top Teen. But whaddif a rock fell on `Nita?"
"Yeah, so WHAT if I like her?" he responded to another set of noises from his vehicle. "That ain't gonna stop me from fraggin' some bastiches. Now shaddup!"
Sitting on his cycle, head slumped in his hand from sheer boredom and frustration, he waited by the front entrance.
"These mooks'd better open the door soon, or they're gonna find bird brain eating his Wheaties with a stump."
"SHADDUP!!!! Look, we'll just wait here fer a couple minutes, then we'll head out. Geeze, ya startin' ta get on MY nerves now! `Sides, what could POSSIBLY be so important that they'd lock ME outta the place?"
*******************************
Blood streamed from her lips as she sailed across the room. She could barely see out of her right eye it was so swollen. Out of the corner of her left she could see her teammates rising to their feet slowly. Kon was still coughing up blood, and Anita's arm looked worse for the wear. Secret wasn't moving at all, neither was Red Tornado. And Robin...where WAS Robin. Why wasn't he here? Where was he? How....?"
*WHAK!!!*
"Come on, little girl. This is barely a warm up for me." Shiva grabbed her by her hair, lifting her to eye level. Despite all her strength, all her bravery, she was no match for Shiva's skill.
"Bah!" She said, tossing her aside like some rag doll. "You're no fun, child. Perhaps I should go to the hospital, where your beloved Artemis is, and finish what I started."
"Artemis...." Wonder Girl whispered, her blood boiling.
"Or, perhaps, your MOTHER would be a suitable substitute."
"Mom....."
"Yes, Cassandra Sandsmark. Tracking you down has been nothing short of trivial. I could go into your house, any time. Tell me, do you and your mother share the same color blood, or is hers redder than yours?"
"MONSTER!!!" The rage had built long enough. Like a bullet Cassie towards the mistress of death. With all her might she slammed her body to hers, rocketing them into the nearest of walls. The breath escaped both combatants as they stumbled to the ground.
Shiva was the first to her feet. Beside her lay the mask of Tengu, shattered. For the first time Wonder Girl and the rest of the team could lay eyes on their method of destruction. Her hair was as black as the garments she wore. Her face was clearly of Asian ethnicity, eyes glimmering like a thousand midnights, and lips as crimson as the blood she lusted for. Her skin was smooth, not haggard like most warriors. She was like a poetic vision of death herself. And the smile she wore was that of a menacing tiger, stalking its prey.
"Good! Excellent!" she commended. "You finally show life. For what little is left of it, that is."
Wonder Girl tried to move, but all energy had left her. A sharp pain coursed through her arm. She was sure she had dislocated her shoulder with that gambit. A gambit that would have paid off, had she been fighting anyone else.
But she wasn't fighting anyone else. She was fighting death itself. And she had lost.
"Say hello to whatever gods you worship," she said. "For I am sending you there to meet them personally."
She drew back her fist, the fist that would have finished Artemis had she not intervened. A fist that would finish her, if only someone would intervene for HER sake. But, glancing back at her comrades, she realized that no help would come from them.
Closing her eyes, she was ready to embrace her end, when a sharp whistle flew through the air. She opened her eyes, just in time to see Shiva, with no effort, snatch a batarang from the air, mere inches from her skull.
"Hello, Robin," she said darkly. Melting out from the shadows was their leader, The Urban Legend known as Robin. His muscles were tensed, and his jaw firm. Shiva did not look at him as he walked forward, staff in hand. But she knew he was there.
"Hello Shiva," he said with equal darkness. She turned, facing the young man. She tossed the batarang back towards him. He caught it effortlessly from mid air and placed it back in his utility belt.
"It's been a while, young one," she said calmly. "I did not think you would have the nerve to face me again."
"Nor I you," he responded.
"*Cough cough* Rob?" Superboy inquired.
"Wha...what's going on?" Secret asked as she regained consciousness.
"Why do you again interfere with one of my matches?" she asked him.
"Do you honestly believe that I would stand by and let you kill one of my teammates?" He retorted.
"What makes you think you can stop me?" she asked him.
"I've done it before," he said. "And, if need be, I'll do it again."
"`Before' was a fluke. Remember, it was I who trained you once. Everything you know is because of me."
"You trained me for a few days, no more. I've grown since then, and have had many other teachers."
"Is...is anyone following this?" Empress asked, struggling to overcome the pain.
"Did...did he say he's BEATEN her before?" Superboy inquired.
"Let the girl go," Robin said.
"Tell me, what do you POSSIBLY have to offer that could make me change my mind?" There was a slight pause, a void that was filled by deafening silence, before finally Robin spoke.
"Myself," he said. "Take me in her place."
"Robin...no...." Wonder Girl tried to argue. Robin heard, but did not respond. Shiva, however, chuckled slightly.
"You would honestly trade your life for hers? Let me guess, you have some more of that speed formula on you. Or maybe you think you can trick me with your whistling stick again."
"No," he said. "It'll be just you and me. No tricks, no formulas." Shiva seemed to contemplate for a moment, but Robin knew what her response would be.
"You were always the sentimental type, Robin," she said. "Finally it looks like your sentimentality will be your undoing. I accept." She moved back to the center of the room.
"Wh...Robin....don't....why..." Wonder Girl tried to find reason to his suicide as he helped her to her feet. Robin silenced her with his fingers.
"I have to do this," he said. "Trust me." He set down his staff, and proceeded to remove his cape, followed by his utility belt. He pulled off his gloves, setting them down on top of his other stuff. Finally he removed his kevlar vest, chest bare, ready for mortal combat.
He walked forward, but paused one moment and spoke back to his teammate.
"Tell Batman....I did my best."
With that, he proceeded to his destiny.
**************************************************************************** **
For some finding one single person inside The Midnight Kingdom would be too arduous a task. But for one who could circumnavigate the globe in the blink of an eye, the order was a little less difficult.
"C'monc'monc'monwhereareyouyou'renotthemwhoopssorry..." His words were as his thoughts; incoherent. But his goal was clear, and his path was set.
"Wherewherewherewherewherewherewhere..." He searched and searched at a pace that can only be described as blinding. So it is no surprise that very little catches the young hero off guard.
Running atop a building, Impulse was caught of guard by a living shadow in his path. The shadow gazed at him, an obvious question on its face: What do you want?
Impulse paused in his tracks, an inquisitive look on his face. For a brief second, he had forgotten what his goal was. Suddenly, like a light bulb, his goal came back to his mind, as he glanced at an instant pace at the paper and back at the shadow standing before him.
"Uh...." he said. "I know this sounds weird, but Robin told me to tell you to come with me."
The shadow cocked its head to one side, perplexed.
************************************
The air inside the secret headquarters of Young Justice could only be compared to that of a graveyard. Lying on the ground, insides torn open and strewn about, was their mentor, the android known as Red Tornado. He lay motionless, deactivated. Standing above him, clad in black, was the one known as Lady Shiva. Her face was masked by an ancient artifact known as the mask of the Tengu, the Bat God. A shroud of death was cast upon her, as the Devil himself seemed to reside in her shadow.
If any could see her face, they would have seen a smile of sinister intent.
The team stood poised, ready for action. Shiva, however, seemed oblivious to their presence. She was, instead, transfixed on one person in particular.
"Greetings, `Wonder Girl'," she said. Her voice was as cold as ice, chilling Wonder Girl to her very core. The young heroin inched back, terrified.
Shiva proceeded forward, striding confidently, calmly, towards her prey. "Did I not tell you I would strike you where you thought you would be most safe?" Her steps echoed through the silence of the room like a death knell.
"Now wait just one minute," Superboy said, moving in front of her path. "What makes you think that you can just..."
*POW!*
Shiva struck Superboy with a devastating blow. The Teen of Tomorrow doubled over, gasping for breath.
"That...*cough* was a....*cough cough* cheep...shot..." Blood sprayed out as he coughed, barely managing to find the strength to speak his mind before collapsing to the ground.
"KON!" Wonder Girl screamed. She tried to advance, but fear kept her from even moving to save herself. Shiva advanced forward.
"I've had enough," Empress said darkly. "Stop." She extended her hand, and, if by some magic, Shiva ceased her advance.
"Impressive," she said cooly. "That is indeed a formidable trick you are using. Voodoun, is it not? Indeed, impressive." Before anyone could blink, Empress was lying on the ground, cradling her shattered arm. Shiva stood above, not even breathing heavily.
"It's a shame I've already encountered it before." Shiva advanced forward.
"THINK YOU CAN HURT MY FRIENDS, DO YOU?!?" A voice cried from the everywhere and nowhere at once. A vortex of smoke surrounding Shiva, bladed tendrils lashing out every which way.
"I don't intend to hurt your friends, so long as they stay out of my way."
"DO YOU THINK WE'RE THAT STUPID?!?" The voice from the smoke screamed.
"No, I KNOW you're that stupid." Shiva reached into a small pouch, pulling out a set of small metal spheres. She launched them inside the smoke. Electricity leapt from the orbs, coursing through the clouds. An inhuman screech emanated, as a girl composed of mist fell to the cold hard ground.
"So, you are Secret I take it," Shiva said, crouching down at her twitching victim. "It was a good thing I came prepared for you." Standing back to her feet, she walked forward, no longer abated.
*Not even one minute. Not even one minute. Not even one minute. Not even one minute. Not even....*
The same thought echoed over and over and over in Wonder Girl's head as she found herself face to face with the woman that could have possibly killed her mentor. She tried to act brave, as if unafraid.
"Are you ready now?" Shiva asked her. "Are you ready to die?"
*****************************
"FRAGGIN' GREAT!!!" Lobo swore as he circled the complex. "Place is locked tighter than my....."
"Wha?" He responded to his cycle's whining. "Yeah yeah, I KNOW I could just blast my way in. Ain't no problem for the Top Teen. But whaddif a rock fell on `Nita?"
"Yeah, so WHAT if I like her?" he responded to another set of noises from his vehicle. "That ain't gonna stop me from fraggin' some bastiches. Now shaddup!"
Sitting on his cycle, head slumped in his hand from sheer boredom and frustration, he waited by the front entrance.
"These mooks'd better open the door soon, or they're gonna find bird brain eating his Wheaties with a stump."
"SHADDUP!!!! Look, we'll just wait here fer a couple minutes, then we'll head out. Geeze, ya startin' ta get on MY nerves now! `Sides, what could POSSIBLY be so important that they'd lock ME outta the place?"
*******************************
Blood streamed from her lips as she sailed across the room. She could barely see out of her right eye it was so swollen. Out of the corner of her left she could see her teammates rising to their feet slowly. Kon was still coughing up blood, and Anita's arm looked worse for the wear. Secret wasn't moving at all, neither was Red Tornado. And Robin...where WAS Robin. Why wasn't he here? Where was he? How....?"
*WHAK!!!*
"Come on, little girl. This is barely a warm up for me." Shiva grabbed her by her hair, lifting her to eye level. Despite all her strength, all her bravery, she was no match for Shiva's skill.
"Bah!" She said, tossing her aside like some rag doll. "You're no fun, child. Perhaps I should go to the hospital, where your beloved Artemis is, and finish what I started."
"Artemis...." Wonder Girl whispered, her blood boiling.
"Or, perhaps, your MOTHER would be a suitable substitute."
"Mom....."
"Yes, Cassandra Sandsmark. Tracking you down has been nothing short of trivial. I could go into your house, any time. Tell me, do you and your mother share the same color blood, or is hers redder than yours?"
"MONSTER!!!" The rage had built long enough. Like a bullet Cassie towards the mistress of death. With all her might she slammed her body to hers, rocketing them into the nearest of walls. The breath escaped both combatants as they stumbled to the ground.
Shiva was the first to her feet. Beside her lay the mask of Tengu, shattered. For the first time Wonder Girl and the rest of the team could lay eyes on their method of destruction. Her hair was as black as the garments she wore. Her face was clearly of Asian ethnicity, eyes glimmering like a thousand midnights, and lips as crimson as the blood she lusted for. Her skin was smooth, not haggard like most warriors. She was like a poetic vision of death herself. And the smile she wore was that of a menacing tiger, stalking its prey.
"Good! Excellent!" she commended. "You finally show life. For what little is left of it, that is."
Wonder Girl tried to move, but all energy had left her. A sharp pain coursed through her arm. She was sure she had dislocated her shoulder with that gambit. A gambit that would have paid off, had she been fighting anyone else.
But she wasn't fighting anyone else. She was fighting death itself. And she had lost.
"Say hello to whatever gods you worship," she said. "For I am sending you there to meet them personally."
She drew back her fist, the fist that would have finished Artemis had she not intervened. A fist that would finish her, if only someone would intervene for HER sake. But, glancing back at her comrades, she realized that no help would come from them.
Closing her eyes, she was ready to embrace her end, when a sharp whistle flew through the air. She opened her eyes, just in time to see Shiva, with no effort, snatch a batarang from the air, mere inches from her skull.
"Hello, Robin," she said darkly. Melting out from the shadows was their leader, The Urban Legend known as Robin. His muscles were tensed, and his jaw firm. Shiva did not look at him as he walked forward, staff in hand. But she knew he was there.
"Hello Shiva," he said with equal darkness. She turned, facing the young man. She tossed the batarang back towards him. He caught it effortlessly from mid air and placed it back in his utility belt.
"It's been a while, young one," she said calmly. "I did not think you would have the nerve to face me again."
"Nor I you," he responded.
"*Cough cough* Rob?" Superboy inquired.
"Wha...what's going on?" Secret asked as she regained consciousness.
"Why do you again interfere with one of my matches?" she asked him.
"Do you honestly believe that I would stand by and let you kill one of my teammates?" He retorted.
"What makes you think you can stop me?" she asked him.
"I've done it before," he said. "And, if need be, I'll do it again."
"`Before' was a fluke. Remember, it was I who trained you once. Everything you know is because of me."
"You trained me for a few days, no more. I've grown since then, and have had many other teachers."
"Is...is anyone following this?" Empress asked, struggling to overcome the pain.
"Did...did he say he's BEATEN her before?" Superboy inquired.
"Let the girl go," Robin said.
"Tell me, what do you POSSIBLY have to offer that could make me change my mind?" There was a slight pause, a void that was filled by deafening silence, before finally Robin spoke.
"Myself," he said. "Take me in her place."
"Robin...no...." Wonder Girl tried to argue. Robin heard, but did not respond. Shiva, however, chuckled slightly.
"You would honestly trade your life for hers? Let me guess, you have some more of that speed formula on you. Or maybe you think you can trick me with your whistling stick again."
"No," he said. "It'll be just you and me. No tricks, no formulas." Shiva seemed to contemplate for a moment, but Robin knew what her response would be.
"You were always the sentimental type, Robin," she said. "Finally it looks like your sentimentality will be your undoing. I accept." She moved back to the center of the room.
"Wh...Robin....don't....why..." Wonder Girl tried to find reason to his suicide as he helped her to her feet. Robin silenced her with his fingers.
"I have to do this," he said. "Trust me." He set down his staff, and proceeded to remove his cape, followed by his utility belt. He pulled off his gloves, setting them down on top of his other stuff. Finally he removed his kevlar vest, chest bare, ready for mortal combat.
He walked forward, but paused one moment and spoke back to his teammate.
"Tell Batman....I did my best."
With that, he proceeded to his destiny.
**************************************************************************** **