I don't own Halo of Justice League; they are the property of 343 Industries and DC Comics/Warner Brothers respectively.
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In the night sky above Gotham City, a dark-grey D77-TC Pelican gunship/transport was on route to its next target. Sitting at the cockpit controls was a lone Spartan, prepping his gear for the next operation. His Mk. VII helmet was resting on the console, revealing a Caucasian man with grey-streaked brown hair, genetically-enhanced blue eyes, and a scar running down the right side of his face.
Sitting next to his helmet were the remains of his take-out meal: Beef-lamb Shawarma.
One of his guilty pleasures since arriving in this timeline was savoring the variety of foods made available to the civilian population. Certainly, a vast improvement over the MRE's and edible paste he was accustomed to back in his own reality.
Once his gear was ready, he reached into his side pouch and pulled out an old, faded photo. In it were four Spartans – two women and two men – clad in the old Mk. IV armor. On the back were hand-written names and serial numbers, all of which listed each Spartan in the picture.
Calista-141.
Sheila-065.
Jorge-052.
Michael-113.
This was an image of himself and some of his fellow Spartans when they first received the venerable Mk. VI MJOLNIR armor back in 2525 – the same year the Covenant began their genocidal war against the UNSC and all of humanity. While he knew and remembered all his fellow Spartans' names by heart, these were the ones he was most connected with during training.
And now, they were gone. Each and every one of them…except him.
A light chime drew the Spartan's attention to the console. He leaned forward to grab his helmet, making sure to place the picture back into his side pouch. Donning his helmet, he activated the Pelican's comm.
"This is Spartan-113. Go ahead, Arian."
Then, a small, light-blue digital figure appeared on the cockpit display module. She was clad in an ancient Celtic gown with ornamental beads woven in her data-lined hair. Her crystal-blue eyes glimmered with amusement.
"This is your lovely captain speaking. It is a beautiful day in the neighborhood, with clear skies, light traffic…and one super-power plagiarizing android currently on the loose."
The Spartan just stared. "You've been watching too many sitcoms since we got here."
"Can you blame me? I mean, there are so many things in this world, this timeline, that are practically non-existent back home. And it's not like you're one to talk, mister glutton," she snarked, gesturing to the take-out container. "I see we enjoyed our very late lunch today. Much better than those MRE's you've been using. Wait, don't tell me. You were thinking the same thing, weren't you?"
Michael's smirk remained hidden behind his helmet. "What's the sitrep, Arian?"
Arian, still smiling, brought up an image of the target warehouse. "Well, you'll be pleased to know that Mr. Roman Soinis' newest asset is awaiting transport at the Gotham Shipyards. The dockyard manifest shows that it was registered early this evening, and is currently being moved into loading bay 14B. It looks like they're planning to ship it within the next few hours – just before the morning inventory inspection. Huh, I guess these guys hate paperwork as much as I do."
Michael snorted in amusement, earning a look of vexation from the AI. "Hey! You try working with something that doesn't involve fast-paced, reliable digital data. Honestly, I can't believe how much humans rely on something as slow, and costly, as paperwork. I mean, talk about snail mail!"
Just then, concern flashed across her face. "Uh-oh."
"What is it?" Michael asked, his tone now serious.
"I've just picked up something on the android's remote command module," Arian said, pulling up the android's radio band. She had managed to acquire it during the Spartan's raid on one of Black Mask's cybergang safehouses a few days ago. She had also managed to download a tracking program into the android's interface via remote interface.
The radio band showed two different colors in near perfect sync. The blue signal signified the tracking program she had downloaded remotely a few days ago; the android's remote command frequency, colored bright orange, was now fluctuating erratically.
"Someone's triggered its automatic defense mechanism," Arian explained, pulling up an image of the figure's schematics. "It looks like someone tried and failed to gain access to the container's security system."
"Has it been activated?" Spartan inquired.
Arian pulled up another data screen, and sighed with relief. "Thankfully, no; it's only gone into standby mode. It should remain that way until the container's lockdown protocol kicks back in…unless someone else decides to get too curious for their own good."
"Then, we better get to it before someone else does," the Spartan concluded. With that, he made his way towards the Pelican's cargo bay.
"I'll monitor the Watchtower's comm. channels in case the League decides to investigate," Arian said. "But you'll need to take it down quickly before it draws public attention."
"Understood," the Spartan nodded. He began arming himself with an assortment of munitions and explosives. "Time to target?"
"Sixty seconds." The AI paused for a moment. "And Michael…be careful."
"You know me, Arian" he said, as he hefted a massive weapon onto his shoulder.
"I'm always ready…"
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…
Down at the Gotham Shipyards, a group of men were moving a large high-tech container onto the loading platform. The container was to be shipped to their boss' contacts over in the Middle East. Their orders were to have it delivered to the dockyards for the first cargo freighter the next morning. However, some of the men were less than pleased with their current wages, and decided to sample some of the cargo within the crate for themselves.
After all, what their employer didn't know wouldn't hurt them.
One man grabbed a crowbar and began prying at the container, with no success. A few of his cohorts tried their own luck, only to gain the same result. One of them tried to access the data panel. When the panel light turned green, they thought they were finally making headway. Their elation soon turned to irritation after a minute of fruitless anticipation.
Frustrated, the one worker went for a more hands on approach…by banging the crowbar hard several times against the locking mechanism. On the fourth swing, he aimed directly for the panel. With a hearty 'whack', he cracked the panel screen and damaged the locking mechanism.
And, to his surprise, it worked. The container hissed as it depressurized, and the top flap opened up, revealing the container's contents.
But what they saw wasn't weaponry, advanced technology, or illegal narcotics.
Instead, they saw an orange-skinned humanoid with pointed ears, green pants and wrist bands, and a black triangular tattoo on his head. The man wielding the crowbar cautiously approached the figure, his tool raised in case something happened. When he was close enough, he tried to prod the figure with the metal instrument…
Only for the humanoid to grasp the crowbar in his hand. The man could only stare as the humanoid's eyes opened, revealing glowing red eyes. Then, the figure rose up to its full height, lifting the man up off the ground with little effort. The man, now fearful for his life, released his hold on the crowbar and fell down to the ground.
Glancing upwards, he tried to shuffle away from the imposing figure. He didn't get far before the humanoid raised its fists and brought them down on top of him, crushing him into pulp and creating a shockwave that carved a massive trench in the pavement. The shockwave also sent most of the other workers flying like rag dolls. Those who weren't killed outright by the shockwave, were alive long enough to feel their bones breaking upon hitting the nearby cargo containers and lifting equipment.
The few workers still alive were disoriented and struggling to get back up. One looked up in sheer terror as the humanoid stood above him. He could only whimper as it raised its arms above its head, ready to crush him into paste…
Only for a massive spike to hit the humanoid in the chest, forcing it back several feet. This was followed by multiple green bursts of energy that struck the humanoid in the head and chest cavity. The worker turned his head around, and saw an armored man charging towards the now damaged figure, firing green bursts of energy from two purple pistols. While not actually damaging the figure, the worker could see small bursts of electricity discharging across its chest. He absently compared them to EMP bursts from those Sci-Fi movies he liked to watch. Whatever they were, they seemed to be slowing the figure down.
He watched as the armored man placed the pistols on his thighs, and then pulled forth a massive gun from his back. The armored man then fired the large gun again, launching another metal spike at the yellow figure. The second spike impaled the figure's upper chest, causing it to spark and shudder from the damage. While it managed to recover relatively quickly, it was still enough time for the armored man to close the distance.
Once he was close enough, the armored man grabbed a pair of handles from his waist. Said handles then sprung to life as twin-bladed laser swords, which he used to slash through the figure's right arm and lower torso. He then moved to strike at the figure's head, only for it to backhand the armored man away.
The armored man recovered and rushed towards his opponent a second time. However, the machine's eyes started glowing brightly before firing twin lasers at the oncoming threat. The armored man quickly rolled under the lasers and fired another green burst from his pistol. The burst hit the machine's face, causing it to shudder from the EMP effects, albeit to a lesser degree than before
It then lashed out at the armored man, only for him to slide under its strike and slash at its left leg, causing it to collapse onto its one remaining knee. The man then jumped over its back and grabbed onto its head and shoulder.
The machine tried to shake him off, but the damage it had sustained thus far impeded its mobility. The armored man then drew out a small package of clay, and placed it on the machine's face before jumping away. The machine turned and tried to fire its lasers again…
…only for a massive explosion to consume its head and upper torso. The fireball soon dissipated, revealing the entire upper half of the machine had been completely incinerated. What was left of the machine toppled over, leaving a puddle of oil where its head and upper chest once were.
The surviving workers rose up to their feet and looked at the armored man. Now that they weren't running for their lives, they could clearly see who their savior really was.
"Holy crap! It's him!"
"Who?"
"That new guy; the armored dude who uses guns."
"Oh, yeah. I heard about him. I think he was called…the Spartan."
"You think he's going to kill us?"
"No, I'm not," the Spartan spoke, causing them to fall silent. They watched as he approached and knelt down beside the machine and collected the two metal spikes. The one worker, still running on adrenaline, cautiously approached the Spartan from behind. "What the Hell was that thing?"
The Spartan's head tilted slightly towards him. "You don't know what this is?"
"Oh, Hell no, man! We have no idea what that…thing is. We were just told to deliver some cargo that was going to be shipped out tomorrow. I swear." The worker looked around the Spartan at the machine. "Seriously, though, what is that thing?"
"It's a highly sophisticated cybernetic android equipped with the ability to analyze, absorb and duplicate the powers of superhumans," the Spartan explained, as he placed additional explosives on and inside the android's remains.
"What kind of superhumans we talking here?" the worker asked, nervously.
"The big ones," was the Spartan's response.
The worker froze as Spartan turned and pulled him away from the android. Once they had rejoined the others, the Spartan pulled out a remote detonator and pressed on the switch. The following explosion completely destroyed what remained of the android, leaving a black scorch mark in the pavement.
Suffice to say, the surviving workers were rightfully scared out of their minds.
"I would recommend you don't try to flee," the Spartan warned. "The police are on their way now, and they've already received the security of what you've been doing here." And with that, the Spartan turned and fired his grapple-shot towards the nearby tower of shipping containers. No sooner had he ziplined over the top and out of sight, when the first police cars pulled up and surrounded the workers.
'Well, I guess it could've been worse," said one worker as they all raised their hands over their heads.
"How? How the Hell could it be worse?" asked another one.
"We could've had Batman beat the living crap out of us before we gave up," was the reply.
As the police moved forward to cuff them, all the workers silently agreed that yes, it most certainly could've been worse.
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The Spartan watched from the Pelican's loading ramp as the last few workers were apprehended by the police. Knowing Sergeant Montoya, she would use the security footage to have them all charged with illegal possession of a potential MAD, and association with one of most wanted cybergangs in America.
And with the destruction of Amazo, it was safe to say that Roman Soinis had taken a major hit to his operations in Gotham.
And the Spartan was just getting star-
"Michael, get up here. We've got a big problem"
The tone in Arian's voice put Michael on edge as he closed up the Pelican's rear hatch. "What's happened?"
"I just got a message from Sergeant Montoya – there's been a breakout at Arkham."
The Spartan's head snapped in her direction. "When?" he asked, as he made his way up to the cockpit.
"Last night, just a few hours after the gangster shootout. Someone managed to hack into the asylum's security system, and shut down multiple cell blocks simultaneously. They even managed to disable the asylum's motion sensors, along with the early warning system. Montoya says that, were it not for the anti-malware programs I installed a few weeks ago, the asylum's alarms wouldn't have even been triggered at all. It would've been hours if not days before anyone realized what had happened."
"How many escaped?"
"Unknown. Gotham PD's working on rounding up the low-threat inmates before they get any further into the city. But it looks like a number of their high-tier threat inmates managed to evade capture…Oh, no!"
"What is it?"
Arian's face was wrought with dread. "I've traced the source of the hack. It came from an abandoned factory on the outskirts of the city, just a few blocks away from the asylum. Specifically, the Mr. Jolly's Candy Factory."
The Spartan stiffened. They both knew of only one villain that could indicate...
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Near the outskirts of Gotham City lay the International Botanical Garden. First established in 1926, it was supposed to be the home to some of the most exquisite, and often endangered plants, herbs and flowers from across the world, ranging from Amazonian flowers and herbs from Brazil, to oil plants and waterlilies from Africa.
Sadly, just the night before, it had the misfortune of falling under…new management.
In one of the warehouses, the self-entitled mistress of comedic chaos, Harley Quinn, was bossily directing a group of thugs carrying a number of air-sealed crates. On each crate, marked in sloppy red paint, were the words:
EXTRA SUPER SPECIAL!
HANDLE WITH SUPER-DUPER CARE!'
"Come on, you mooks! Can't you move any faster? We are on a tight schedule. We can't disappoint our very important customer. Now, can we?"
The assembled thugs, not wanting to disappoint their boss, were more than eager to follow her orders. With that, they managed to move the crates into place next to the large convoy of delivery trucks all marked: Gotham Delivery Services, We Deliver with a SMILE!
Once they were done, Harley skipped over towards one of the crates. "There, that wasn't so hard now, was it?" Ignoring their nervous fidgeting, she grabbed a nearby crowbar and pried the cover off the crate. Inside the crate were multiple air-sealed bags filled with a certain red flower all the way from Europe.
Harley leaned down to caress and cuddle the air-sealed bags. "Aaahh, how I could just eat you all up. You are just the most gorgeous little things. Yes, you are."
"Now, now, Harley," came a chiding voice from behind her. Jumping back, she turned around to see her hubby, and walking towards her. "Let's not get ahead of ourselves. Don't forget, these are for the special presentation this weekend. And we wouldn't want to damage the merchandise right before the promised date of delivery."
"Oh, of course, Mr. J," Harley said. "But you know how I get with pretty things. I guess I just...forgot."
"I know, Poo!" Joker patted her head, causing her to 'Eek!' in response. "Alas, it is a mistake being made all around the world. All these young people these days…they just don't understand the meaning of these little pretties. What they represent to past and future generations. Just what it means to respect and remember what happened all those years ago." The Joker's voice took on a faux tone of mourning, while Harley took off her hat and laid it across her chest in a gesture of respect.
Then, the wide smile returned as the Joker continued. "And so, that's why I took it upon myself, being the patriotic American criminal lunatic that I am, to change all that. To give this country, and the world, something that will give this day that special meaning once again."
"After all," he concluded, maliciously, "it is a day…to be remembered…. Heh-heh-heh-heh-heh-heh-heh-heh-heh-BAH-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HAAAAAAAA!"
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Oh dear, it looks like the Joker has something planned. Something that he wants the whole world to see. Kudos to those who can guess what this plan might entail by the next update.
Also, we have the Spartan face down and defeat the cybernetic android, Amazo. Now, before you all complain about him taking down the android that matched the Justice League's heavy hitters on his own, just hear me out. While the android copied their powers and abilities, he didn't have their durability or healing factors. In the Batman movie 'Under the Red Hood', Batman and Nightwing faced off against Amazo when he had the super strength, laser eyes, and flight abilities of Superman…and Batman managed to damage him with Batarangs and plastique explosives. Plus, in the YJ season 1 episode, Conner managed to stop Amazo by thrusting his hand through its head just as it switched from Martian Manhunter's intangibility to Black Canary's martial arts.
If they could defeat Amazo using these gadgets and techniques, then a well-armed Spartan super-soldier could most certainly do the same thing. Especially when he had a Smart AI helping him develop the strategy needed to take him down quickly and efficiently.
Finally, we get a bit of a back story surrounding our Spartan, along with his name and Spartan class. I figured an OC Spartan-II would be the best option for this story, given that Noble 6 and Master Chief have already been used for this type of crossover fanfiction.
Well, I'll try to have the next update done before this coming Friday. Until then, please read and review.