(This is waaay long)

The New Young Justice

Issue 3

By The Writist II and RT/manticoraus

The sound of footsteps on metal echoed into Luke's ears. He glanced up, briefly seeing Cody's pained face over the rail of the catwalk, before it was jerked from his view. Luke noticed with dismay that Cody had reverted to his civilian guise. Fashionable though it supposedly was, it meant that he had been disarmed of his scepter.

Luke knew that his ring was clutched in the warm palm of the wiry man nearest to him, perhaps of crucial aid. If he wanted it for escape he would have to rely on his skills. He knew he was quick enough to take out the two men guarding him, but he would still be open to fire from the other guards. Luke had no delusions of his skill; no mere human, trained in ancient martial arts or not, was quick enough to take down all those guards and guarantee the safety of those about him.  And the other captive was all but disabled.  The boy nearest to him was probably Gamer. He was unarmed, covered in purplish bruises and lacerations, and likely couldn't handle himself in a fight too well.

Luke glanced back up to OSK. He was obviously drugged; with Luke unarmed OSK was the most dangerous member of the group, and they intended to dispose of him first. Luke guessed that they knew none of their weapons could truly kill OSK; the liquid that looked like an acid was probably the only thing they thought could completely destroy him.

Pondering this, Luke realized his only option of escape was to take out the man with his ring, grab it, and run in the distraction OSK's gruesome death would probably cause. But then the other heroes would be left to die alone, an unacceptable sacrifice. Luke steeled himself, calling upon all his discipline to ward off the oncoming fear as he studiously ignored the rambling of the tall, mid-set man in the center of the room.

Suddenly he noticed a movement from the corner of his eye. The girl guarding Thought Sniper raised her muscled arm, her Uzi aimed towards a man in front of a console. The clap of gunfire echoed through the room and the man fell, crimson blossoming on his lab coat.

"What the hell?" Tangent spun, his expensive shoes squealing on

A serious of battle cries rang out, and several more Cliques came pouring into the room, falling upon the shocked guards like a pride of lionesses upon a herd of zebra.

The room exploded in chaos.

***

As he felt the panic and confusion levels in the room spike, Cody calmed his own nerves and reacted. He grabbed the wrist of his captor, which was so thick both of his hands barely made their way around it, and jerked forward, twisting with all of his strength and speed. Managing to get the leverage just right, Cody flung the gorilla-like guard over the rail of the catwalk.

"Ha! Your self-defense instructor show you that one, rich boy?" the other guard laughed.

Cody lunged, managing to get one hand around his scepter and plowing his other fist into the man's ruddy face. He felt his knuckles go numb with the impact.

"That scepter is mine you son of a -" Cody was cut off as the man, unfazed by his attack, drove his scepter into his chest. A sharp pain spiked through him, and Cody was flung back against the rail. A wave of vertigo overcame him as he nearly tipped over it.

"Back off, you little fag!"

Cody blinked, his pain being quelled by an icy fury. "Oh, you did not just say that!"

The man charged, but Cody's foot whipped up, his heavy Doc Marten hammering into the guard's jaw with a dull crack. Cody's flexibility and the kick itself may have been products of dance instead of martial arts, but driven by his indignant rage it was more than enough to send the much larger man tumbling to the ground in a tangle of limbs.

"Goddamn right-wing fascist," Cody muttered, gently picking up his scepter. The man groaned, rising. A sharp swing of the golden scepter against his temple sent him fully into unconsciousness.

Cody allowed the uncharacteristic rage to ebb away, as golden energy erupted from his scepter, transforming his chic outfit into his gleaming armor. With a flourish, he leapt over the rail.

Phoebus had entered the fray.

***

"Luke, Gamer, cover your eyes!"

Luke obeyed instinctively, and beyond the black walls of his lids he could sense a brilliant light. He heard several guards cry out in pain, and a rifle or two clatter to the floor. Wasting no time, he dropped his arm and fell upon the blinded guards like a wolf.

Whirling about, he became a cyclone of precise strikes and kicks, and within half a minute the guards were down.

A flash of green caught Luke's eye, and he knelt to scoop up his ring. "It's time."

The ring slid into place, and immediately emerald energy rushed forth. It contorted and writhed, until a dragon's form emerged. It barreled through the bewildered guards and towards Thought Sniper, who was being pursued by some sort of floating suit of armor.

Scalding energy blasts ricocheted off of the dragon, but its gnashing teeth shredded the robot with ease.

Grinning, the light of creativity flashing in his eye, Luke surrounded himself with an incandescent suit of emerald armor. It was an intricately clever blend of European, Chinese, and Japanese design. A staff appeared in his hands, and he leapt into battle, an emerald soldier of righteousness that downed soldiers like a farmer's scythe does stalks of wheat.

***

Thought Sniper fell back into the shadows, nearly overwhelmed by the whirlwind of thoughts surging around him. He stifled a cry of shock as a bullet pinged dangerously close to his skull. Whipping around he came face to face with the barrel of a rifle, a soldier staring down it at him.

"Oh shi-"

Another shot rang the man's body bowed then fell out on the side with torn ragged flesh where there was once full leg.

"Huh?"

Gamer stepped forward, holding a one of the downed guards FA-MAS rifles one eye squinted shut and one arm dislocated. "Knew that lessie gun rpg was gonna teach me somethin'!"

A grin crossed Thought Sniper's face. He had felt… something give in Clique's mind when she touched him. He had figured it was a mental barrier of some sort, but perhaps it had been something more? Whatever the case her miraculous betrayal had just won them a fighting chance!

"Gamer, get down!" Thought Sniper's hands whipped forward, forming the shape of a firearm, and the psychic bullet ripped from his fingertips and struck the guard's torso. He cried out, his gun clattering to the ground and his convulsing form crumpling soon after.

"Cool, a beretta!  I love these guys this is way easier then ooh!" Gamer's spiel was interrupted by the waive of pain blurring his thoughts, "I think I need seem healing?"  Dwayne rushed to take him on his shoulder.  Not strong enough to carry he felt Gamer's readiness and knowledge pour faster then the current of pain and memories of abuse.  Thoughtsniper kneeled reaching for the handgun.

***

Luke twirled his staff like a water wheel, bowling over soldiers right and left with ease. A fusillade of bullets bounced harmlessly off his armor.

"Luke! Up here!"

OSK's cry rang out, his drug-induced weakness obviously gone, or at least over-whelmed by his characteristic rage.

Twin beams of light lanced from Luke's ring, hitting the glowing shackles that bound OSK. They vanished in a hail of sparks, and OSK ricocheted off an emerald platform, curling in midair into a ball. The armor was becoming less defined, as if un-inked and then a roaring fire plume.  Luke had to stop that crucial second to remove his ring.

A beam of concentrated crimson light struck Luke's stomach, flinging him backward. He hit the ground and skidded as his armor flickered from view. Luke rolled to his feet, slightly shaken but otherwise unharmed. His attacker was a seven-foot tall suit of armor, its wearer's lower face visible beneath the visor. Its arm was in the shape of a cannon, a wisp of smoke rising steadily up from the barrel.  Pocketing his ring Luke took leg forward stance his pant seat almost touching the ground he so limber as amplifying emerald energies sheathed him sparking with a threatening crackle for his flaunting.

Something interrupted the standoff.  A noise halfway between a battle cry and an animalistic roar echoed forth as OSK kicked out with both legs, striking the armored guard. The metal crumpled like aluminum beneath his sledgehammer blow, and the guard flew backward into several unarmored ones.

Spinning around, OSK charged into battle. Luke rose, armed with twin Chinese broadswords this time, and sprinted alongside his teammate. He carefully kicked and struck the guards, his energy-enhanced techniques incapacitating them, but OSK bowled through them, fueled by an almost frightening rage. Guards flew left and right, tossed like rag dolls by OSK's considerable strength.

Wow, Luke thought, cleaving a rifle with one of his swords as OSK's snap-kick sent an armored guard careening into a console. So don't want to piss this guy off…

***

A flurry of crimson bursts battered at Phoebus' force field, flickering and vanishing as they did. He swooped towards the two floating armored guards, willing his gleaming bubble forward to hammer them with its indestructible bulk. Propelled by a complex system of rockets and gravity defying devices, the two guards proved too difficult to hit.

Suddenly one veered off, headed towards OSK and leaving his comrade to deal with Phoebus alone.

"Decon look out!" Phoebus cried. Hoping his teammate heard his warning, Phoebus dropped his shield and darted forward, energy swirling around the edge of his scepter. Without his force field, his speed was much greater. The glowing edge smashed into the guard's armor with a blinding flash, shards of metal whipping in all directions. The guard's curses were easily audible through his wrecked armor, as he tumbled to the ground.

Phoebus gazed after him, searching for a sign of emotion to signify that the guard was alive. "God, I hope he's o-"

"Phoebus!" Instinctively, Phoebus whipped around, to see a sphere the size of a basketball hurtling towards him. It was wreathed by electricity and dancing sparks. Phoebus wove to the side, avoiding the ball but not the sparks. As they danced along his body, the scepter-bearing hero felt his muscles stiffed and his nerves go numb.

A muffled cry was all his paralyzed jaw could manage as he plummeted to the ground, his landing softened, but not made painless, by his remaining control over the scepter.

OSK vaulted over to Phoebus as a second sphere descended. Grabbing the scepter, OSK swung the ancient artifact like a baseball bat. It connected with the sphere with a dull thud, sending the ball hurting back towards the guard who fired it.

"Didn't you play baseball as a kid?" OSK asked, handing Phoebus his scepter before he morphed back into civilian attire.

The numbness creeping from his limbs upon contact with the scepter, Phoebus managed to respond. "You're one to talk."

OSK smirked, before glancing around. "Where's Tangent? We should probably get to the bottom of this!"

***

Clique downed another two guards with a spray from her Uzi. She frowned as she felt a pang of remorse.

"What the hell?" the clap of her firearm ceased, as she gazed down at it. Suddenly something struck her from the side. The Uzi was ripped from her grasp and sent skidding across the ground.

Reacting upon years of instinct, Clique drove her elbow into her attacker's face. He stumbled back, clutching it and groaning in pain. It was Tangent himself.

"You little bitch!" he snarled, a crimson rivulet of blood travelling down from his lip.

"I'm sorry, you just had that done, didn't you?" Clique snapped. She wriggled out of her jacket as Tangent lunged.

She saw the silver flash of a switchblade and raised her arms in a cross block, catching Tangent's forearm. He forced her backward, using his greater strength and leverage, but Clique twisted, managing to use his momentum to flip him onto his back. Tangent rolled to his feet as Clique withdrew two nightsticks that had been strapped to her thighs.

Tangent lunged, swinging his blade, and Clique danced backward, narrowly avoiding his smart slashes and countering them with kicks and strikes. He managed to land a savage punch, sending Clique sliding across the floor.

She flipped to her feet and landed a sidekick to Tangent's stomach, followed by a vicious knee to his face. Whirling about, her long leg swung up and whipped him across the jaw. Finally, she spun again, thrusting her leg out into a back kick that sent Tangent careening into a computer console.

Clique paused, watching Tangent stagger to his feet, blood streaming down his face. Her own face was throbbing with pain from the punch Tangent had slipped through. It had been nearly enough to take her out; Clique was used to quick, clean kills, not knock-down, drag-out fights with men larger and stronger than her. Plus Tangent was a much better fighter than she had given him credit for; his facelifts and Armani suits hid an obvious skill with boxing and knife-fighting.

"Why don't we… settle this without weapons?" he muttered through swollen lips, sending his switchblade skittering across the floor.

Although her common senses screamed at her not to, Clique flung her nightsticks away and adopted a standard fighting stance. Some bizarre, unusual anger enveloped her, clouding her judgement. It was like a dam had broke inside her mind, allowing the emotions that she had kept at bay for so long to overwhelm her.

A shrill battle cry erupted from her lips as she aimed a sidekick at Tangent's sternum. He sidestepped nimbly, catching her leg in his powerful arm.  And the other in a sideways fist reach to her thigh

"What the--?"

"First rule of business, Clique," Tangent whispered in her ear.

She could smell his sour breath, feeling its sickening heat against her cheek. Fright, another abnormality for the assassin, jumped into her throat as she saw an electric blue spark dance between her flesh and his hand.

"Never throw away your advantages!"

Pain spiked through Clique's body, but she refused to scream, even as he finished and flung her limp frame to the ground. Tangent smiled at his stun gun, pocketed it, and walked away.

"Now to get out of here," he grimly accessed hitting a sequence of buttons on an unmalicious mini wireless.

 * He's ALIVE, that son of whore's goat is crawling around *

*  Yu! Stop it how could you he's barely a toddler. *

* A .45 and he's not freaking dead but I swear what was Tin cleaning out the floor! *

* Why is ji-san mad? *

* He's just just so surprised you made it.  We thought you were going to- *

"DIE!" Decon screamed at the dark-skinned man in the freaky tattoos and ripped shoulder shirt and bandanna.  The touch.  To Kill. He had to…

"Guys, damnit, everyone who's okay!" Phoebus painfully asked concurrent to his self-healing by the deity rod.

"Pop tart's gone down for a bloke," the artfully ripped Clique announced hefting a near doppelganger of herself in the midst of the storm of melee and gunfire.  The other was she save the concussion, electrical leg burn, and bruised face.

"Always stay a-LERT!" Dwayne advised in a voice break shout he shot the knees and shoulders from an approaching pirate.  Gamer weighed on his back not comfortably arranged and pulling more than his simple ten and a third stone needed.

Phoebus was utterly strained.  He needed to be near something to heal it.  And the way the firepower was pouring on they wouldn't have much time.

Then the announcement wailed over unseen PA's, "Switch to flame throwers! And let this be noted.  The F protocol is in effect starting two minutes ago!"  It was scrambled by low quality but was certainly the secure Jerry Tangent's voice. Clique's stiffened as some of the fighting guards ceased and looked to the ceiling as if told it had just said it would fall on them.

"What's plan F?" OSK roared in frustration fists starting to bubble with unreleased blood as he pounded a wall just to shake different scaffolds.

Thoughtsniper seemed to seize then thrust his face to up to Luke, "It's scorched earth for them.  They're going to seal the place and in five-no ten - no- ugh, no one knows.  But soon and they bring in the water and sink the base."

Cody was aghast, "No, the expense, his own people!"

"Are lost to the freakin' Coast guard or worse if they are caught and besides after the more uh replaceable stuff sinks they can just …

"Replace it?" another Clique singsong enthused in a loose and practical version of the their standard as she was lifting the near unconscious boy from Dwayne's back.

Dwayne was now awed looking at her wondering aloud, "How?"

Phoebus worked having one of the felled armors pried.  Tearing it open with the rod throbbing accessorized as an auric crobar.  Cody was sweating profusely as he grunted , "No offense but we gotta ask can we trust you.  I mean all of you?"

Luke swatted here and there to the rapidly fleeing formerly fierce opposition, "We don't have time for background checks.  We must cash out now!"

"No," other Cliques objected in unison, "We can't!  There is only one evacuation point they don't take extras.  And we need all of our sisters here."

"Gees, two minutes and you already bringing over your girls like you own me," Decon retorted down over a railing at the many Cliques.  If not for the costant smell of broken men and machines, the threat of if not certain death than loss in the depths of the cold enormous ocean, too doped to teleport, and the thunderous lanes of guards stampeding for their lives this could be heaven for the numerous dark-hair and certainly well toned identical twi- no with now ten of them the whatimpzits?

Phoebus was too awash with his own feelings to read those of the girls clearly.  They were all different yet alike, sympathetic like they were closely raised children but something else.

"I, like, did a trick.  I can summon myself a little bit away in all three dimensions if I try hard.  North Fall always encouraged me to be adaptive, hee-hee," the loosely attired Clique gave as her delayed response to Thoughtsniper as she set Gamer down.  Phoebus couldn't see how she'd be a danger

The Clique just quickly reached in her uniform with one hand and appraise Gamer's damaged form with her other, "My they weren't gentle.  And goodness that caliber in his hands."  She commented as her mitt coiled a gripped firm but not dangerous about Gamer's upper arm and turned it about and wrenching it back into socket.  Just as the thick youngster opened his mouth she stuck a simple dowel in it.  He bit down to deal with the pain.  Her method was field perfect, though her bedside manner whimsy.

Dwayne's head bobbled and then he turned up, "She- they know field medicine.  Phoebus we're clear.  Take out the armors one's- AGH flamethrower!"

He pointed Phoebus followed on sheer instinct calling on a focus exercise from his past and another in the near present.  He found the target and used his scepter as a bat.  A sphere of golden light snapped from the end at the apex of the swing. It was as if it was a struck baseball, expanding to a curved plane that reflected the plume of fire back at the armored fighter.  A high feminine scream pierced the din of evacuation as it fled cussing the pointlessness of the fight.

The Brit Clique then stood, alone now, just as the pilot ran.  Then the cockney girl vaulted leg over head and kicked off a wall.  Missing not a beat she grasped a single hand to the rail of the low walkway, found her center in that continous instance of clarity and flipped over.  Clique A's legs splaid to ease her landing onto the firmness of the walkway before snapping together to stand rod straight.

The other Cliques performed similar feats of acrobats all a little different one with a ninja mask more more precise and sure, if that were possible, until they all converged to about one point.  Near the medic one.  And then the guys saw.

The secret of the mystery.

It was a simple instant that revealed the truth as it always had been.  The brit, the stone-faced, the mad, the stealthy, the sensuous, the bubblehead; they were many.  They are one.  One girl.  That treated Gamer's wounds.

Just as Luke chased away the last of the stragglers Phoebus sealed the doorways with his sphere's projecting powers.  Golden force-fields like unyielding saran at every visible entrance.  He had to touch ground now. So much power used at once.  Lifting himself was unnecessary and consuming.

OSK and Luke ran to join him as quick as they could run.  They propped him up.  Cody wanted to rest.  The emotional stress was so exhausting.  But he lay the bulb of the caduceus to OSK's shoulder and the drug was truly removed in minutes.

"God, my head, some- much clearer.  AGH, how long we got left?"

"Knowing this guy, it was too late by the announcement," Phoebus sounded hollow and drained his throat dry and heart beat wild, "Men like him don't announce a downsizing until -ugh- the heads have been frickin' plucked."

"You must rest," Luke offered as he internally hated himself for his consideration.  They were going to die and he couldn't risk the ring unless he was recovered and wouldn't risk getting that because it would mean risking distressing Cody.  The pre-emptive protectiveness an unspoken counter-active to the empath's peace.

"He's right,"  Thoughtsniper's voice sounded as his expression was far away, "Too, late to run."

"But there's an abort," Clique-Chantel said desperately, "I, I don't know the code but you guys found this place hacked a frickin' layout surely you can crack the code?"

OSK phfft, "From here? With what?"

"Wait, you were his guard?" Dwayne snapped to here and now.

"Yeah, I mean not always but," Clique stated as she salved, set, and bandaged as Phoebus sat breathing himself to something of a calm.

"Yeah his cell phone number?  Know it.  Okay YEAH, GREAT!" he spoked hurriedly as if anxious about great news.  He pulled out his own cell dialing frantically as he smiled saying to no one in particular, "Back off, I've got a cellphone and I am not afraid to use it."

***

Yo hoho ho ho

Tangent smiled at his personalized ring then lifted the phone to his ear to answer not checking the id, "Well, how are you.  Sorry I've been out of contact just had to make a personal asset rearranging and overhead closing.  Hmm, Gabe?  Sota?  Who the hell is this?"

"Just the nobodies who caught the emperor without his clothes?" the voice replied.  Tangent was piqued.  Something seemed just so * something * in the timbre, like he should know the voice.

"Darnel, make sure to contact Rashee and tell him to send my displeasure at my lease.  I hate it when they shoot at me.  Oh and where's my new Flex-Zer's tennis suit.  Court reserves in two ya know?  Yes, and make sure this phone number is still unlisted."

***

"Got it, it's.. uh.. rather uh" Thoughtsniper adjusted his hat and glasses at a loss.  Then Decon left Cody's side a hand outstretched above the others, "Wah, don't kill me!"

OSK phfft to Dwayne, "Clothes don't make ya hardcore," then more to than at his ally, "Look, have some confidence that killing touch only works on the weak.  Besides I gonna to ask ya.  Please, may I have your knowledge?"

TS's face slackens at the formality, "I I I uh, yeah," Decon's hands touch him.  He feels something transfer and his head swirls about.

"Got it now, too,"  OSK smirks then frowns with a realization.  He glares Dwayne in the eye as breathes are taken, steadied and then calmed.

"Kiss 'em or get to doing the shut down!" Gamer rasply interrupt vocal, at least, now.

"Yeah, well like that.  It's okay.  Things been worse.  Sides ya alright," Osk responds to something unspoken ignoring Gamer.  Then once again assuming the wight-like form wisping through air and structure seeking the operations center.

***

Pain, such ebbing pain.  So much more preferable to what it signaled.  He couldn't make it.  Not to the door with the bullet wound in his shoulder.  He would die here of shock or blood loss before he drowned.  Even before his life began flashing before him as he saw the whitish smoking reaper rise through the floor for him and into his body-

OSK had died.  MANY times.  He could always come back.  He'd been trained to his limits.  The vat of acid was a new one.  Ji-san had once used a kiln though.  The heat seemed to sear through his seven year old body like it wasn't there.  Then at times it seemed to have followed him through his respawn portal just under his skin or through the hollow of his bones.  He liked the fire there.  It was a kind of scar.  The only kind he could bare with his freakish regenerating body unable to hold signs of his work and stripes of his manhood.  And it gave him strength.  Strength to cleave through the drugs.  Strength to move this wounded form of the dying minion he now possessed.

He pushed up with both arms limping to the controls only for the crushed state of the calf bones.  And entered the code sequence perfectly.

The original resident of the body felt first horror and shock.  It was all Decon could do to keep his/their heart from popping.  But it was too late for this man.  The flooding had been stopped.  But he was realizing in complete horror the real reaper was sucking his soul away.

Decon didn't like to think about that peaceful sunless quiet land that refused him so many times.  Especially like this.

He left the man to die telling him only this.  He'd been a tool his whole life.  But now one for a right cause.

And he wondered could he self-appointed evil fighter could ever be truly good.

***

OSK returned on a higher walkway.  TS's eyes saying all he needed to know.  They knew he had succeeded.  Just as Clique and Phoebus now in unison tended to Gamer both his eyes open and his skin nearly cleared of roughness and damge.

"Right, just, about," Clique appraised then raised the kid up, "And oh yeah, one of us got ya belt for yahs." She slunge it over Gamer's front

Gamer then sat up as if by spring and dug his hand into his torn shirt.  He pulled it out holding his trump, "That's all we need then, drop the top and let's blow this dump!" Cody grinned so he was going to witness another secret revealed before his eyes.

The playing card lifted up in a perilous glow and turned up sideways into the wall.

"What is this.  What the hell!" Osk was flabbergasted.  He couldn't believe it.  It was now huge but still recognizable.  Plain as day.  A simple Bicycle card's ornate Ace of Spades.  That was the size of a few SUVs and soon turning over itself.  Slowly then accelerating into a drilling whirr as it shoved loudly into the side making a design perfect tunnel about 25 foot in diameter. The flurrying of rock, dust, and shrapnel at the sides made not a deterrent to the controller's team.

***

Cody needed only a slight shield to keep the dust off of him.  It was magically convenient the way the spade shaped the passage through the wall.  They could climb up and then walk through following at the point as it seemed the mass and form reformed to Gamer's expectations.  His focus at this point was amazing.  Experiencing virtually no emotion but extreme determination to be free it drove the card with something he couldn't quite sense, a likely more mental component

It was likely one smooth exit from here until daylight until.  Gamer seem to strain and push at the air.  Tears swelling and finally a he cries out, "It's not enough. DANG IT it slipped!?"

"That's bad right," Luke asked blandly.

"This is more an art than a science okay.  I mean.  I mean I prepared it as much as I could but man these things are so loose as it is.  And and I took only five minutes with it.  Its going out and uh man only a temporary effect, look behind us"

The darkeness befell them just before Luke and Cody lit themselves up.  Cody made an amber searchlight to overhead.  The spade was now more the size a clover leaf then a tornado funnel.

"Is it my imagination.  Or is it getting smaller," Clique asked

"Its spent," Gamer's voice was subtley panicked.

"The walls reappearing like it was always there!"  Osk yelled looking back.

Luke then pulled out his ring, "No time for fear," he oathed under his breath.  Slipping the artifact on he pulled back his arm as it pumped up with fierce powerful fire. The stone was refilling the space behind them..  The air pressure ringing his eardrums.  He focused his power to one point.  Then unleashed.

***

Outside a swirling column of green light danced with itself outside the side of a cliff of the mountain in the center of the island.  The newly formed band of six crawled out from the newly made opening as Luke removed and pocketed his ring again muttering, "Light to the darkness."

Osk was almost gentlemanly as he jumped the distance from the exit to the ground offering to catch Clique.  She accepted and got copped at the caboose for the trouble.  As OSK then recovered doubling over she and her sisters laid a rope helping the less daring of the crew repel down.

Cody floated himself and then rested, I should take up smoking so needing to calm and ease myself, he considered.

Dwayne just practiced his own calmed martial arts moves as Gamer sloppily re-embraced his belt.

Osk was the first to speak, "Ya know I could probably possess Tangent make him confess and then jump in a lake?"

TS shook his head, "The clan would live on.  You saw the gunners.  And this is more than a job to them it is … everything they got.  Family, history, community.  Everything.  Besides could it hold up in court a coerced confession?"

Clique seemed amused at this.  Then Osk smiled, "I think he'll give it in payment.  I just remembered something!

"What," asked Phoebus, not liking the perversely pleased and amused feeling Decon was rolling in.

"I forgot to use the the door override."

TS called, "Jerry, guess what.  You're stuck.  Only there was this enormous tower sized flare that I am sure is warranting some investigation.  And by whom?" 

***

The executive clan leader was fuming.  The kid's voice and tone had that note perfect affectation he'd styled for himself.  He couldn't get a bead on it.  Shaking he made clan hand signals to his men.  They responded in turn.

"So, what's the deal?" he said in a certain sigh of defeat

"Come, come, Jerry.  Don't get that way, I know they said they boarded and boobied the boat.  We don't need it to go back but would like it.  Let's be more open.

"Then tell me your name.  I lost an old timer in this biz cause you turned him.  He was the Andy Griffith of this clan.  Did you know that?  And I had to brain him with a bullet because what you did.  Have any idea how that screws with a young Mosk-En's rep!"

"Young," TS sneered, channeling Phoebus for a split second then refocussed, "You know from the computer logs.  Its Thoughtsniper.  And this is a phantom phone.  You'll get my last calling position and nothing else if you're the CIA following it,"  Dwayne couldn't help but chew this up.  Usually his power was one terrible social stumble after another.  Now, it was giving him all the advantage.  Maybe he'd found his true calling.

"Listen, you-"

"No you listen.  You are trapped.  Your very critical reputation with your clan and your stockholders is in certain jeopardy which increases to that closer to catastrophe for every minute you're trapped.  The clock is ticking for the coast guard, navy perhaps the pan-asian anti-pirate alliance or of course the JLA.  You're down to maybe a handful of those armors and a bunch of seventy-second stringers- us- cakewalked through them.  You aren't behind the desk.  You're at the edge of the table bent over.  So what you wanna take it from us, or an unknown!"

Jerry fumed inside, "What do you want!"  Dwayne told him.  Outlining in painful detail with insider-speak, "Unacceptable.  You guys have no idea the level of shit you just shoveled into the wind.  Do you have any conception how things are done!  I ain't into vendettas and frankly if its this mean a catch I let it go.  But releasing girls, returning squeaked up merchandise, no way you'll get no troubles.  I got that girl on lease and let me tell you it's a certain anyone with pride to the profession will be taking pots at her.  And that's not including the folks who want revenge.  I ain't guaranteeing your safety with my resources.

"Then you will not be making life difficult for mister Gamer or Diamant," Dwayne coldly replied.  He was reverted to type simply because of one reason.  Whatever Jerry's stream of worries and fears vocalized it was nothing compared to the amount going through the shark's head.

"Deal, fine, whatever.  Just tell him he owes one of my guys an ace!" Jerry growled back, regaining some bargaining straw.

"Fine whatever!"

"Decon, if you would please?" Dwayne shut off and pocketed his phone as Osk smiled leaning in and touching this recently befriended ringer at the forearm.

"Got it," the half-demon smirked, "back in a" he stopped as he ghosted through the wall then maybe ten minutes later returned, "slash!" he puntuacted as he then showed he held Gamer's belt.  The youngest of the group bugged out his eyes then was hastily searching his pockets.

"Hey what this, if found return to Robert Checo?  Checo, what kinda name is," Decon wondered looking at the inside of the belt

"MINE!" Gamer-Robert protested, "Now please freakin' give it and where's my ace card.  I was gonna get it laminated.  Or use it to make a tunnel through the bottom and sink the place.  Not sure."

"Damn, dog, well I guess you should expect some reprisal from Tangent's company?" Osk inquired tossing the boy his belt and Dwayne a non-static pad wrap bundle, "There's the drive you traded for."

"What reprisal I think I burned his only location in my town.  And he tortured me.  He comes talking about reprisal on my home turf he's just throwing shrimp down a trash compactor!" Gamer was furious if also rather casual as he played with the portable game console from his belt's holster..

Cody stood up refreshed enough, "Dwayne, what's up, what we do now?"

"We open the gates.  After all there are innoecent lives at stake.  Open all of them!"

And so scepter beaming forth through the air Cody went about using his empathy to sense the places of sheerest desperation for release and thus opened every door to the outside.  Even the flagrant pseudo-rock face to the bay they had just escaped from.  Smirking he waved then flew to his team at the side.

"Okay Decon, Dwayne, Luke, Robert, and uh Cl-" he began.

"Chantel, decent a civilian handle as any.  Besides Clique's more my work than my life, now!"

"Okay but don't get in the boat think you can tow it with us?" Dwayne asked still mentally shy of Phoebus in his charged up state.

"Be a bit outside my usual rep," Phoebus admitted, "And could wreck if not careful,"

Gamer finished tapping the buttons on his portable console and smirked, "Don't worry, I got us a ride."

***

Back at the Diamant residence in Cody's garden a whirling dome full of various lights and whistles, bells and circuitry sprung to life.  Then so did the ship it was installed within.  It had a signal.  And now was following wings in close just as it rose up up from altitudinal propulsion and charged then flared across the circuit board of the city.

***

"There it is. 4T, ya miss me boy!" Gamer rubbed affectionately to his console as the scifi craft, recently shooting in from overhead, lowered itself to the ground.  Dwayne's eyes lit up like Christmas.

"No way, I mean I knew from out Quake shake-ups but I mean looking now, here.  WHOAH!"

Gamer smiled and then the ladder extended down.  He climbed up to the opening cockpit and planted the handheld into the complex piloting control board before him.  It merged and linked.

Osk jumped up high as if vaulting, "SHOTGUN!"  Phoebus caught him in place with a quick use of the golden rod, "Hey hey hey.  I remember this thing being space for one."

"True," Gamer said, "But it's got some interesting sensors and you can just ducktaps yo'selfs to the wing!"

Phoebus grumbled, "Some thanks for your rescue!"

***

The craft was soon flying to the twilight horizon of the city with barely visible but sturdier than steel cables towing the craft behind it.  The yacht was held aloft and un-torn bow from stern by Phoebus and Luke's combined effort on the underside.  Thoughtsniper, Clique and Gamer's ship's droid had found all the boobies in a snap.  So it was a scenic ride to the shore.  Day slipping away as the moon already arisen ready to truly shine as its sibling sun turned to another side of the panoramic celestial dancefloor.  Osk broke out champagne bottles from the galley.

"Stupid lock, hope he don't charge me for it," he complained as he set two glasses one before the other and maitre'd-like poured a snifter of Corbelle.

Dwayne cleared his throat. And then another glass was set and filled for him.  Holding with delicacy and poise in one hand he smiled.

Clique had kept to just one of her for the trip staring at the skyline as if it something that had just spontaneously appeared not been around for many millions of her apparent lifetime.

"I propose the toast," she spoke with fluctuating feeling.

"With me by a fire," Osk slipped in leaning to her flawless cheek and nearly undone lips.  Even the salt effected hair not extinguishing her fineness.

"Dude, you wanna go overboard?" Dwayne piped in Clique's would be retort.  His hat now off he didn't think his face needed more concealing from them.

Decon's face became a briar patch of pity and disgust turned to the long haired teep, "Ah, when your's drop I'll call ya about that," then he resumed gazing at Chantel.

"My toast is.  To the dance.  Many partners, stags, and even some wild donkeys.  But always something to see with awe for the very first time."

Phoebus grunted from lotus position holding the caduceus between his hands sweat formed at his brow,  "I would really like a little celebratory libration too, ya know?"

Luke in mirror to his recent energy wielding partner and emotional coach only his hands instead with Buddhist prayer beads shook his head, "Focus on the forces.  And the form like a sheet that becomes skin.  A water that becomes a sheet to make out the form and to move and heft it.  Moving so swift across the twilight sky.  Cody, I mean it I can't risk my ring again and this is kinda heavy for me.  FOCUS!"

"But it's my galley!  I should have a drink with two guys after a guerilla assault on an ancient unknown pirate aerie.  I shouldn't be still working.  C'mon," he half-whined as he returned to the dual meditation with Luke.   Luke's skill was amazing but his raw muscle power with energy without the ring was not exactly the same as Phoebus.  For now

***

One ship was landed in her dock-space as another in the parking lot.  The crew was achey and tired and Cody didn't want to use the scepter anymore.  It was still charged but he was not.  All he wanted was a bed, maybe with a tall lithe and firm blonde in it to congratulate and share the recent mission, but would settle for four fluffed and set down pillows and sponge sprung mattress comfort.

Gamer's ship began to dissolve into the night like a cloud of mosquitoes as he fell through the mass landing on his feet with a plopping grace.  The ship finally, as Bahamut had, removed itself from the world as Cody's limo flashed its lights.  Gamer was hesistant but Dwayne and Osk assured him of the safety.

The car ride was one of sullen and pregnant discomfort.  Chantel though enrapturing Decon had tried to kill near all of them.  Dwayne was hopeful but unsure and Gamer just plain sour.  Cody couldn't block out the intense if quiet moods in the car.  Though to Robert's credit he'd be tortured for several hours and had a reason to be displeased.  Osk despite it all was still pissed off about whatever it was that pissed him off.

                              And Clique herself.

That was something else.  When they had first met he had sensed something like intense schizophrenic depression.  Now informed he knew the truth.  She was an meta-assassin.  A weapon that moved from one moment to the other like a tool of killing.  But she was also a girl.  A lot of girls sealed under a lot of … a lot.  Cody closed his eyes and tried to sleep on the ride.  Rest taunted to embrace him, weight on his lids.  But alas they were home.

He guided them in as he mumbled sleeping arrangements kicked off his shoes in an uncharacteristic and sloppy fashion and slumped into an armchair that he loved so much now he'd propose to it in the morning.

The silence broke, "WHAT FREAKIN' TOOK SO LONG!" Gamer screamed.

Dwayne sighed and ignored him, "Look, uh Chantel, uh Clique. I uh…I don't know what I did.  I'm sorry.  But I didn't control you.  Really, I couldn't.  I barely can control myself."

Clique smirked and undid her hair as she precisely began to disrobe starting at her foot wear, "Really, now. Hmm look I don't wanna talk this in forum,"

"I think its important we do.  Clique they put something in your head.  I'm mainly receptive but I think my psychic bullet plus my black hole of thought suckage loosened it so you could break through.  I mean.  It was an accident.  I'm not sure-"

"If you can tell me more?" Clique's voice was so child like then firmed, "It's okay.  I, I just got my first taste of history today.  It que- uh threw my game off.  But I'll be back on the ball.  Soon.  I just.. I just need some time to be used to this uh thing-"

Gamer venomed, "FREEDOM! Oh yes, my what a horrific state.  Freedom.  Able to think and decide and figure.  My I can just see your T.a.t.u. collection.  How it sucks to be pretty, strong, and out forced assassination."

Cody groaned from his seat, "Robert, she's sorry.  Okay, leave it off.  And we're sorry too.  But next time, just maybe, stay still for once"

"Okay, dad, I guess you kno- oh wait rich swish white kid who thinks buying new outfits is imperative in hostage crises.  The thing stinks of off the rack.  In other words you'll never be a dad let alone mine because if anyone has a head on their shoulders you'll be spade and not let near kids for more than ten minutes."  He huffs and looks about tears forming, "Where's my room?"

Cody groaned again, "Rosario take him to a guest room... please!"

Osk looked to Clique and then touched almost platonically to her shoulder, "Look, Chanti-baby, listen.  I've been there.  The whole raised to kill thing.  And the not human thing.  Maybe we can help each other.  I just got one bare-ass apartment but look.  Really. I mean it.  I could help you adjust on the east coast.  Away from the nonsense for awhile, huh?"

Chantel's grin was wide as the moon she turn to Decon and nodded in a slightly accepting bow, "Thanks."

"Huh, well guess this is the end of my solo career," Cody smiled wakening just enough with lopsided grin, "I mean look at us.  All of us.  Just a single day and we're crashing at my house.  You're opening up yours and all genuine and true and stuff.  And you, Dwayne, you negotiate a way to save my and all our bacon.  We so pull together."

Luke was smiled at this and nodded, "We seemed to be a collection of adventurers and heroes driven to save the day or at least enjoy it together.  You're all good to hang with.  Even the Backstreet Boy,"

Cody winced in pain, "Gawds how out of it have you been?"

A musical laugh began and rose through the room.  Even another two voices joined.  One accented of the exotic the other more the country.

"Came to help with the jammies.  She seemed way to old to be doing it herself," Gamer was plainly caustic and moved, "And ya'll did like actually come get me when I'd likely be chum without."  He began to hand out linen and bedclothes.

"I have some women's things for you, dear girl," Rosario intoned her gnarled and wrinkled hand grasped at Clique's leading.

She was out of sight"Why, away they aren't going to attack," she didn't miss a beat as the * sshhu-mmph * of her leotard, "this no point in hiding."  Gamer and Osk gasped as she slipped back in with a comfortable nightgown with supple ease.  Rosario sighed genuinely worried.

"Uh. A sports bra," Gamer commented?

"Need the supported and firmness uptop.  So stop gawking.  And let's hit the sack."

Osk surprised them with an honest blush. As Luke looked to the adjacent wall.  His upbringing strict but not puritanical and the human body wasn't a thing of shame.  But still.  A toned super assassin with – he'd suddenly lamented a lack of brassiere study.

Cody just stared at the other guys then coughed, "She's right nothing we haven't-"

"You've seen a babe with no drawers!" Gamer was right in Cody's face flabbergasted, "You you you're always stealing em to be roomies and manicure buddies you-"

BOP

"Guys, to sleep!"  Cody announce sceptre in one hand as his cross expression undid itself.

"Arnn al'yur basis ur bewrong t'ush," Gamer gurgled as he overdramatically passed out.

Epilogue

By ssj4vacca edited by RT

*** One hour later at Cody's house. *****

Rosaria walked in the room with some flannel pj's in a basket wondering, "I hope these clothes fit well and are stylish enough for children."

Rosaria then sniffed, "And I see you guys need a shower as well." The group nodded simultaneously.

*** One hour and thirty minutes later at the dinner table***

Our newly clothed and refreshed group walked into the smaller of Cody's dinning rooms. The table was filled with an abundance of foods and beverages. They then sat down one by one and proceeded to eat. The room was silent except for the sound of chewing, drinking, and the scrapping of eating utensils.

"Wow you have sesame chicken and fried rice," Deacon yelled, "Hey Luke, pass me those bowls of 'em." Luke nodded as he used his construct powers to pass the food next to deacon's plate. Deacon began rapidly devouring plate after plate of warm breast and fried rice.

"Good god, Deacon, slow down!" Cody exclaimed. Dwayne and Robert looked on in disgust while Chantel rolled her eyes.

"Wow you just ate 8 plates of food," Luke said as he looked on in awe, "Your scarfing faster than a fat man in a baby eating contest."

Dwayne chuckles a little. "Hey, hey I got a laugh! My job is done," Luke said as he put his hands behind his head and leaned back in his chair. THWAM !!!!!!!! Luke fell back out of his chair. The room went from a few chuckles to a burst of laugher. Everyone was laughing. Including luke, who was rubbing the back of his head.

"I don't know about you guys, but I'm beat" Cody said as he yawned and stretched, "You're more than welcome to stay in the night in some of my guestrooms. They are right down the hall across from each other," he finished, pointing. Everyone sitting down then nodded in agreement. After that was said Cody left the table in pursuit of his bedroom. Then one by one our group left the table. Robert was the first to head toward his guest room, then Dwayne, Deacon, Luke and last Chantel.

***Luke's room***
Luke silently lay awake in a daze as he thought about the recent events occurring in his life. His door then slowly open and Cody's head poked in.

"Hey Luke you can't sleep either, huh?" Cody asked as he sat on the right side of Luke's bed.

"So what's up, Cody" Luke said with a puzzled look on his face.

"I was about to ask you the same thing," the superhero teen responded.

"Huh?" Luke started.

"Well since the moment I saw you, you seemed to be in a great deal of pain."

Lukes face darkened. "I don't want to talk about it right now. Maybe tomorrow. I'm feeling a little tired," Luke stated. Cody nodded, sensing that Luke was getting uncomfortable.

"Tomorrow it is then," Cody said as he made his way to the door.

"Oh and don't feel bad about confiding in friends for help or support," Cody said as he closed the door behind him. Luke rolled over in his bed and pulled the sheet up as he curled in a fetal position. He then slowly began to dose off.

***Robert's room***

Man this guy is rich. One of his guestrooms is twice the size of my bedroom, Robert thought to himself as he stared at the ceiling. Robert then started to spin a card between his fingers.

"Things have been really crazy lately," Gamer said to himself as he chuckled alittle, "I met up with a sinbad reject, a fitness instructer with a bad temper, a human time bomb, and a chick with the worst case of PMS I've ever seen."

Robert smiled as he couldn't help but wonder what the future might hold for him now that things has changed. Robert then yawn as his eyes became heavier and heavier. The then began twirling the card slower and slower until it dropped on the bed beside his hand.

***Deacons room***

I'm glad I stole this from that tang, Deacon thought as he tried on the disk control glove for the first time, I'm surprised I was able to hide these things this long, Deacon reflected as he picked up the disk.

"Oooo three blade settings. This one is nicer than most that I have seen and used," He then heard a soft knock on the door. Deacon quickly took off the glove and shoved both items under the bed. Come in he said as he folded his hands behind hid head as he laid down. The door slowly opened. It was Chantel. But she had a distraught look on her face. It was so wrenched the instant Deacon saw the look he went from guy-thinking-that-he-was-going-to-get-some to a sympathizing fellow being.

"What the matter, baby?" Deacon asked softly.

"You mind if I sleep here tonight. I....I just feel like..I don't like being alone," Clique responded quavering. Deacon nodded silently. Chantel then slowly climbed under the covers and laid her head next to deacon's as he embraced her. They then drifted off into sleep.