Slickboy444: I think the overprotective route was done to death, yeah J'onn and Peter are nice together. With Ultimate SHIELD and Cadmus I think they are a lot alike, although Cadmus never arrested meta-humans left and right during that Ultimate War story. The whole Long Shadow idea just hit me one day and I like him in here.
Pookie: I'll deal with Peter's love issues later, Bruce/Batman don't date cause of reasons I already stated earlier in the fic. I'm NOT hooking Long Shadow up with WW, I don't know where you got that idea.
Uncanny R-Man: No Teen Titans in this fic and I know about Fire and Ice I was just making a joke.
SpartanCommander: Superboy won't show up in this sorry, no I'm not doing that with Doc Ock I got something better in store, and I got a more logical way to help Long Shadow.
Kaliann: Yeah that really did happen to Peter and it was funny. Well you know Batman, he's kind of like that.
Kamerus: I've seen most of all three seasons by now, although I would be interesting in the link to that site but don't send it on a review they don't show up use my e-mail.
Dr. Doom: Yeah I hate it when people/events get lost and forgotten about. So I decided to fix that. Legion was in the old Superman cartoon once, and Hawkman is in the new season. I got plans for Galetea in a new fic after this.
Duke Devlin: I think the overprotective thing was overdone plus it's kind of cruel to come down on a guy in a hospital bed. Atom is a physicist but he is a genius and could help. I'm not doing LS/WW relationship in this. The Fire and Ice was left up to the reader's imagination.
Turbomagnus: They never actually said Long Shadow dies.
Multifan: I doubt Clark would tell anyone of that he's not the type. Atom is there to help with the equipment and he can help Peter out with a few things. If you look at that episode closely you can see that he might have had a crush on her. You forget they don't have access to any of that and that Beast was killed. Cheetah might be in another fic.
Doza: Yes I did explain how Peter got here everyone but you seems to have gotten it. Those scientists that brought Doc Ock were responsible, read over the chapters with them more carefully this time and you'll see that I subtly hinted that the last time they did their experiment was the same time Peter ended up there.
And thanks to everyone else as well I would respond to more but I have to limit myself to responses.
AN: I am thinking of Long Shadow and Donna now that people are asking it may be a good pairing and he's a lot like Peter personality wise. I'm also not sure about doing the episode when they time travel maybe that will be a small fic.
JUSTICE LEAGUE: THE SPIDER
CHAPTER 28: BREAKTHROUGH
It had been a week and so far Peter hadn't found anything. Sure there was some headway but he kept feeling like he was missing something. It didn't help that he had to split his time on this and his actual day job. Sure he lived rent free but that didn't cover expenses. He was still trying to think of a few nice things for the place, although Kara had done some redecorating. Just a few posters and pictures and a few items here or there nothing major.
Peter walked into the lab looking for Atom wondering if he was off on a mission. But then again he was talking about a man that could shrink to a size smaller then Wasp from the Ultimates, "Hey Atom you in here?"
There was a small glow as The Atom enlarged himself, "Taking a first hand look at something?"
Atom nodded with a smile, "Yeah you can really see things differently from the microscopic perspective." Peter had to wonder at that, although the idea of being the actual size of a spider wasn't appealing let alone smaller. Hell most of the League were taller then him as it was.
"Anything interesting or helpful?"
Peter saw him shake his head, "Interesting yes, helpful? No." Peter sighed to himself, Atom may not be in the field of chemistry and genetics like he was but Atom was sure helpful. He knew his way around the lab and even helped Peter to construct a couple of new equipment by modifying the old ones. Since a few of their equipment was still state of the art it could still be improved.
Peter sat down on a chair resting his head in his hands. Atom came up behind him and patted him on the shoulder, "Take it easy we'll find a way through this."
"Yeah I know I just hate working against the clock, especially since we don't know how much time we got left," Atom had to nod at Peter's comment. He too didn't like this, for all they knew they had hours to weeks to find a cure for Long Shadow.
"I just wish we knew how they made them, it might prove a bit more useful to know what went wrong." Atom said off hand looking at the computer results for a simulation that Peter programmed on how a few of their ideas could work out. So far none of them seemed to fair too well.
"Yeah if only," Peter leaned his head back. After a moment his head snapped back up, "Hey wait a minute…Atom how were they made?"
"They were grown in a lab you heard that."
"No I mean how," Peter stressed the word looking at him as a theory was starting to come together, "I mean yeah I know that part but you can't just grow people from scratch and give them super powers. I mean where did their powers come from? What did they work with to base them off of? You can't just shot gamma rays into a test tube and hope for the best."
Atom thought about that. They would need a template to work with at least, "They all at first had just one power until they mutated, all different too."
Peter nodded his head glad to see his friend was on the same train of thought as he was "Yeah but weren't some of those powers similar? I mean that Jolt and Long Shadow have powers similar to at least two League members that I can think of not to mention a few others too."
Atom suddenly got a very bad feeling as to where this was going, "Tell me you're not thinking what I think you're thinking."
Peter nodded, it was a scary thought but it made sense, "There's only one way they could have created them so quickly…Cadmus has detailed files on who knows how many members at this moment and what's worse you bet they got samples of the DNA of a few of them by now if not more…"
Atom hated to admit this but this made sense it also gave him a bed feeling in his stomach, "So you're saying that…Cadmus created them out of the DNA of League members." It wasn't a question but Peter nodded anyway. This was bad this was really bad if some shadow group was messing around with the DNA of heroes. Hell for all he knew they had villain DNA as well.
"Do we have any DNA records of the League?" Spider-Man asked and Atom went to a computer terminal. He called up the League date and started to run a comparison through the League members. All of them had their DNA profile on the security system and their membership cards so no one else could use them. Atom really hoped that Spider-Man was wrong but on the other hand if he was right they were a large step closer.
Then after about thirty minutes of DNA comparison there was one partial match to Long Shadow. Peter looked at the name and then went over to a communications unit in the wall and called up J'onn in the monitor room, "J'onn, Spider-Man here we need to for you to send someone to the lab as fast as you can."
"Who do you want me to send?" The Martian asked.
"Atom Smasher."
Several hours later Long Shadow was sitting on the observation deck just looking at the stars. Usually when a person was dying you'd expect a person to be with their family, writing wrongs in your life. The thing was he had no life, not really. All his friends his teammates were now on their own deathbeds with Cadmus. He really hoped that they would survive, they were all each other had in the world.
So here he was just looking at the stars. It was strange he knew that he was dying and yet was kind of at peace with it. Sure at first he was angry like the others but he accepted it, he also had to have hope that things would turn out better.
"Peaceful isn't it?" He turned to the voice and was surprised by what he saw. There was Donna, Wonder Girl leaning onto a rail looking out to the stars. "I think everyone comes here now and again when they feel the weight of the world on their shoulders."
Long Shadow nodded, he hadn't met Donna before but she really must be Diana's sister, the two looked almost identical. A few differences in the features and she was younger too but there was a strong resemblance. "I didn't know you felt like that."
She gave a small smile this man seemed like he had deep troubles like herself so she figured maybe it was best to get an outsiders look on things. Sometimes strangers could be just as helpful as friends, "Well…The boy I like wants me only as a friend and he's fallen for a girl who is one of my closest friends. I still like him a bit more then a friend. My sister calls it a crush and maybe she's right, but I still feel a bit guilty for thinking of him like that, but I also feel a bit envious of my friend because she has what I want." She looked at him, "Silly I know…So what's your deal if you don't mind me asking?"
Long Shadow wasn't sure what to say but if she could bare her soul he might as well, besides he felt like he needed to talk about this, "I found out I was grown in a lab a year ago, that all my past memories are fake and that I may have only months to live," He told her with a deadpan look.
Wonder Girl gave him a curious look like she was thinking if he was telling the truth of not, "Okay…You win." That broke the tense moment as both gave a small laugh at it. She sat down next to him, "You know my sister told me a little about you, she said you seemed like a kind and caring person," Long Shadow blushed a bit and she smiled, "And shy too it seems."
He gave a small smile she was a very easy person to talk to, "So do these friends have names?"
"Spider-Man and Supergirl." Donna gave a half smile.
"Really?" That surprised him, "I've met him, he's a nice guy easy to get along with."
She nodded her head, "Yes that's him, so if it's not too painful why are you dying?"
"It's how I was made, they screwed up making me and my team in a lab," He said in a slightly dark tone.
"You know my sister and I were made and not born as well," She saw his surprised looked and she smiled," Oh yes not many people know this. My sister was created out of clay first I was made from some that was left over some time after it."
"Okay…I never say that coming." She gave a small laugh and he had to admit talking about this did feel a bit better, "Anyways Spider-Man is trying to come up with a way to help me out."
"He's a good friend and I know he'll do his best. He's also smart so if anyone can help you out he can."
Long Shadow nodded his head. He hoped she was right, after that the two just sat there in silence just watching the stars. It was a comfortable silence both of them just sitting there and enjoying the sight of space. He lost track of the time but he felt very peaceful at this moment then the internal speakers turned on with J'onn's voice, "Long Shadow please report to Lab 1."
"Well I hope that is good news for you," Donna told him as he rose up.
He looked down to her and nodded, "So do I."
Long Shadow had no idea what he was going to walk into either they found a way to cure him or to tell him it was hopeless. But by now he would take anything at this point all this waiting was weighing heavily on him. When he did walk into the lab both Spider-Man and Atom seemed to be excited over something, "You wanted to see me?"
Spider-Man looked up at him and he wished he could see the man's face it was hard to read him from just body language, "Yeah I think we got it."
He was stunned by this, "Y-you're sure?"
"Well…We need to test it out on you but the simulations seem to work," Spider-Man showed him on a computer screen a few test results, most of what he saw was over his head but at the end of them all the words flashing 'Stabilized' gave him hope.
"How?"
"Now there's a million dollar question," Atom said smiling as he was preparing a large clear chamber that he had modified for Spider-Man's treatment to his specifications.
"Yeah you see…We're sure that you and the other Ulitmen were created by using the DNA of other League members," He saw the shock in the man's eyes and nodded to him. He knew that this would be yet another blow to him, "You see part of your DNA, specifically your powers is the same as Atom Smasher which makes sense because you two have the same exact power."
Long Shadow had to sit down as he listened in on Spider-Man. Apparently his DNA was mixed with that of an unknown Native American hence his looks but the powers weren't stable because they never fully bonded with the other genetic makeup. His body was rejecting the other DNA like a person with failed organ transplant.
"However there is hope," Peter began as Atom filled in a chamber with some kind of liquid. "You see I've altered slightly a fresh sample of Atom Smasher's DNA. I altered it just enough so that it will bond with your own DNA and hopefully stabilize you. Your body won't reject the part of the DNA that has your powers it will just rewrite the old DNA to your own. Now this shouldn't effect your powers but…Well…This hasn't been done before to my knowledge…"
"It's worth a shot isn't it?" He looked at the red and blue hero with hope in his eyes and Spider-Man nodded.
"Yeah, Atom helped me to made that chamber over there to help put you through a type of gene-therapy. The fluid will have the new DNA in it and you body will soak it up. Infusing every cell of your body."
Long Shadow stood up, "When do we start?"
He had to strip down to his short and have a few monitoring wires hooked up to his body as well as a breathing mask over his face but he was ready for this. He dropped into the liquid as he remembered that they would give him a slight sedative so that he would sleep through this. He saw the distorted world outside and wondered if he would wake up or find himself in the afterlife. That was his last thought as he faded into darkness.
When he woke up the tank was being drained and he felt a bit weak from lack of movement. His eyes were a little light sensitive he fell to the floor as the liquid was gone and he tried to stand but his muscles had been so inactive that it was a struggle. As the front of tank opened up he felt hands on his body taking off the monitoring equipment and the mask. He felt himself being lifted up and placed on a bed he felt cold but then someone threw a blanket on him.
"Hey you awake?" He heard a voice call to him as his vision cleared up to see Spider-Man looking down at him.
"How…Long?"
"About three days it took a bit longer then we thought but from the test…It's looks like it worked. You're DNA has stopped destabilizing and from what we can tell you're perfectly healthy," Long Shadow smiled and he felt like crying out of joy at the moment. He had his life back and best yet he could finally live it the way he wanted to as well.
"Thank you…" He whispered out.
Peter patted his shoulder, "Hey it's what we do right? When we get you all cleaned up let's get you something to eat. I bet you're hungry after living like a fish for the past few days." Long Shadow just smiled and nodded his head.
-Cafeteria-
Spider-Man and Long Shadow were walking to a table with a tray of food, they're weren't any free ones but Peter saw that Green Arrow was there along so they might as well join up with him. "Hey mind if we sit down?" Peter asked.
Green Arrow smiled up at them, "Sure why not I was beginning to think people didn't like me sitting here all alone," Peter had to smile under his mask at the joke. He had to admit that Green Arrow was a very unique person, he was this rich guy like Bruce but without all the darkness and brooding. He carried more different arrows then Peter could even guess at and he had a warm and friendly attitude.
He was also the type of guy that liked to look out for the 'little guy' as the man put it. Something Peter could relate to given that's what he did most of his hero career. "Well Green Arrow meet Long Shadow."
"Hey kid welcome to the club," GA smiled warmly at him.
"Thanks a bunch, I still can't believe that I'm finally a member and that soon I'll be on the active roster," Long Shadow said happily. In fact he had a lot to be happy about the gene therapy from what they saw was working and he had a chance at life. He hoped that the League could convince Cadmus to try the same therapy with the others. In fact as soon as he was medically cleared he could be on the active list.
"Hey boys might if I steal a seat," All three men looked and had to try not to swallow at the sight. There stood the female hero Vixen and boy did that name fit. She was this beautiful African American woman with short dark hair, piercing eyes and wore this skin tight orange costume with lone gloves that did nothing but show off her very nice body. It also was low cut down the front giving all the word a nice look at her impressive cleavage.
"Sure thing," Peter did his best not to look too hard he was in a relationship. Then again he was also a red blooded male and he was glad that the eyes of his mask were large and no one could see into them. It helped to hide where he was looking. 'Damn it why do all female heroes and villains have to be so hot looking?' He thought to himself, 'I mean isn't there any ugly ones? Or even normal looking ones? It's like every single woman I meet in this are either very good looking or walking heart attacks.'
"You can stop looking at my chest now." Peter froze as those words but then noticed she wasn't looking at him but at Long Shadow who was blushing madly. Peter was very thankful when he made his costume to go with the full face mask. It really helped to hide his expression.
"So you're Spider-Man, I'm Vixen," She said extending a hand and Peter shook it, "Ever since you moved into New York I've been wanting to meet with you."
"Oh?"
"Yes I have a place there in New York but my job keeps me moving around and sometimes I'm not there for weeks and then I got the League stuff as well," She told them taking a sip of her drink.
"So what do you do if you don't mind me asking?" Spider-Man asked and then noticed the looks he was getting from her and Green Arrow, "What?"
"I'm a model," Vixen had a humorous look on her face.
'Of course she is…Well that explains her good looks at least,' Peter thought to himself, "Uh…Sorry I'm not much into fashion."
"You need to get our more then," Green Arrow smirked and looked at Vixen, "I loved that cover for Sports Illustrated by the way, think I can get you to sign my copy sometime?"
Vixen smiled at him and nodded, "Sure thing all for a fellow member but this isn't a come on is it?"
"Naw he's got a thing for blondes in fishnets," Peter said and pointed his fork at Black Canary talking to Zatanna and Ice. He also noticed the slightly annoyed looked he was getting from the green archer but just smiled.
"Oh yes," She remembered something of a pool going on about those two. There were how many times she would shoot him down, how long it would take for her to go out with him and a few others. Then her attention turned to Long Shadow, "You're awfully quiet."
"Oh, uh…Well it's just…I'm still new here and don't know that much about everyone."
"Well don't be afraid to jump in now and then," Vixen gave him an encouraging smile.
"So does this mean that I'll see you around New York sometimes then?" Peter asked her.
"Pretty much, I just don't seem to go out on patrols as much as you or Supergirl do. Although with Diana and Donna now also residing in New York I think the local crime level has dropped a bit." It also made things a bit easier with her as well. She could concentrate on her career and her League duties more, before that she pretty much was the only one in New York and it was a big city. It was hard for her to go out on a regular basis and do the hero thing. It was one of the reasons they wasn't in the spot light much, her fashion career did enough of that.
"So Long Shadow where are you going to stay?" Vixen asked and it just accrued to him that he hadn't a clue.
Peter noticed this, "Hey don't worry about it when I first got here they let me stay in the rooms. So you got that here while you can try and make a life for yourself."
"Yeah I'm grateful for that," The Native American hero nodded. Although before now all his needs had been taken care of, he had a lot to do but he also felt a bit good about it, being on his own with no one telling him what to do or what to say. He was sure it would be hard but looking around he was sure that with the help of the others here and his friends that he could do it.
So with that he dug into his meal as he listened on to the other heroes. 'Yes it's good to be alive and having a life to live.' He thought to himself.
NEXT UP CHAPTER 29: PLANS AND DATES