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Public Enemy Number One, chapter 5
Superboy and Match were at Titan's Tower, trying to forget about the public sentiments that had turned against clones in general and Match in specific. They were also trying to ignore how formal everyone became around Superman. It was one thing to acknowledge that he was respected, but it was slightly mortifying to see the other Titans unable to relax around him. Match made a Sir Eliot reference that nobody placed.
"Is there anything we can do?" Wonder Girl asked. "We could hold a rally to stir up support like we did for teen heroes!"
"That didn't work out so well," Robin reminded her.
"That was because of me," Match said. "I don't think it would work because there isn't a large group of clones that could gather. Or, to be more precise, there aren't enough acceptable clones to gather. Bizarro would be a bad person to appear, for example."
"So, what do you suggest?" Cassie asked.
"I'm going to be called upon by Congress to testify. That is, I will sit before them while they make speeches referring to clones as abominations and declaring me a horrible thing that should be imprisoned at the least."
"Match, you shouldn't be so cynical," Superman warned him.
"I've tracked the public statements of the members of the committee. If anything, I've underplayed their responses. It's not going to be pleasant."
"They've always been respectful to me when I've appeared."
"You've never had an eighty-five percent unfavorable rating. The latest polls also show that a majority of those polled wanting me to be put to death. The committee members are politicians; they follow the polls."
"I know I shouldn't have let you near any of the newspapers," Superman mumbled.
"So, what's your strategy going to be?" Robin asked. "I know you, and I know that you've got one."
"My opening statement is going to be key," Match said. "I will have the opportunity to make it before I'm denounced at the hearing. It's possible that it will be able to change the course of the hearing. That's why I'm going to let Superman do it for me."
Kid Flash laughed. "That's great! He can set the record straight at the very beginning! Everybody trusts him, so it'll stop everything!"
"That's true, everybody trusts Superman," Match agreed. "That's exactly why he won't be available to speak on my behalf."
"What do you mean?" asked Wonder Girl.
Kon realized what his brother was getting at. "Kor-El is going to have a distraction for him. He's going to arrange something to keep him busy, isn't he?"
"We can have other people cover it," Robin said. "There are other heroes that can deal with crises while Superman is talking to Congress."
"I know that," Match said. "Kor-El knows it too. I think that he'll have an answer for it. I don't know what it is, yet. I don't have enough information to figure out what it is."
"I think it'll be the imposter Matches," Kon said.
"What impostors?" Wonder Girl asked.
"The ones who have been destroying stuff," he explained. "I think they're the ones that are going to draw Superman away."
"I thought they were just doctored images," Kid Flash said.
"There's been live footage from multiple angles," Kon said. "I thought that too, but it was pointed out to me that the images had to be true; it's the content of the images that's false."
Match smiled. "You're most likely correct. That gives me a basis with which to work."
The security alert beeped. All the Titans present looked at the screen. The End's commandos were approaching the Tower. They weren't trying to sneak in or assault the area, but they did not look like they were here for casual conversation.
"What are you doing here?" Cyborg asked over the communication system.
"We need to talk to you," Technician said. "May we come in?"
Cyborg let them in. The atmosphere was tense.
"What brings you here?" Cyborg asked.
"We're here to take Match into custody," Takedown said.
"What are you talking about?" Superman asked. "On what grounds?"
"Anyone can see what damage he's done!" Takedown shouted. "It's clear!"
"Do you realize that I'm already in custody?" Match asked. "Superman is watching me twenty-four hours a day. I'm unable to go anywhere for fear of being assaulted. I can't even publicly defend myself against some of the charges that are being thrown around."
"We discussed it and felt that it was our duty to apprehend you," Camouflage said.
"I sense unease from you, Delphi," Raven intoned. "Why?"
"This confrontation was necessary," Delphi explained. "I saw it happening. That was my reason for agreeing, nothing more or less."
"Why didn't you tell us?" Technician asked.
"That's beside the point," Takedown said. "Are you going to come quietly or not?"
Everyone tensed as they expected fighting to break out.
"Stand down," a heavily accented voice came from the door.
Everyone turned to see an elderly Asian woman in a black business suit.
"Who are you?" Robin asked. "How did you get here?"
"The End sent me," she told the commandos, ignoring Robin's question. "The End is unhappy with your actions. I'm to bring you home and supervise you."
"You expect us to accept that without question?" Takedown scoffed. "You'll have to prove it!"
"And you can explain how you evaded the Tower's security while you're at it," Cyborg added.
"The recognition code is tau nine three cerulean," she said.
Looks of acknowledgement appeared on the commando's faces, and they relaxed from their combat stances. The Titans and Superman relaxed as well.
"Now, how did you evade our security?" Cyborg asked.
"I've been in this business for over fifty years. You learn how to do those types of things."
"This is Mrs. Chen," Match said. "She's a legend in the intelligence community. I've read her file; she's trustworthy."
"Thank you," she said.
"We have a state of the art security system," Robin argued. "I want to know how she evaded it. Doing so would require a level of technical proficiency that I don't think she has."
"She's a low powered metahuman," Match explained. "She has a mental shield that's virtually impenetrable and can evade electronic detection if she desires."
"I see you've read me entire file, including the classified sections," she commented. "Regardless, I'm here to bring everyone back."
"I still think that Match is dangerous," Takedown argued.
"This isn't about who's dangerous, is it?" Kon asked. "You want to test yourself against him. You want to see whose skills are better."
"If that's the case, then I'll provide you a practice match," Match said. "In return, I would like Delphi to provide a reading for me."
"That's acceptable," Delphi said. "I saw these events coming."
Match and Takedown faced off in the practice room. Match was the taller of the two with a slightly larger reach, but Takedown appeared to have a broader build. Match had agreed to not use his powers for this fight.
The initial steps of the fight were the two probing each other's defenses. Takedown appeared to be a touch faster, but Match was able to predict his moves and block them.
Suddenly, Takedown stepped up the intensity of his attacks. Match looked to be barely able to block them. That encouraged Takedown to continue attacking.
Watching from the sidelines, Mrs. Chen said, "Foolishness. He's fallen into his trap."
The constant attacking meant Takedown wasn't quite as careful as he should have been. One jab was made with slightly more force that it should have, and Match pounced on the opening. He threw Takedown, slamming him on his back. Then while the teen had the breath knocked out of him, Match grabbed his throat.
Takedown's eyes bulged, and he gasped for breath when Match let go.
"That was quite good, but you need to prevent yourself from over-committing," Match told him. "I only needed a single opening. When it came, I took it."
"Where did you learn to fight like that?" Takedown panted. "I've never seen anything like it!"
"He learned it from Danube," Mrs. Chen answered. "She was a supremely talented operative, but Match has built off of the base she provided."
"Most impressive," Match murmured. "I'm not the only one who's taken a look at files, I see."
"Delphi, once you've provided a reading for him, we'll take our leave," Mrs. Chen stated. "We have several issues that I wish to discuss with all of you."
Match offered his hand to Delphi. She took it and gazed off into space, seeing something that no one else present could. A moment passed, and then she returned her attention to those present.
"I see sorrow, anger, and fire in your future," she said. "I see you burning."
"How...unpleasant. Thank you for your reading. I'll see what I can do to deal with that."
"I'm sure that we'll come into contact again," Mrs. Chen said. "I trust it will be as allies."
They left, and neither Match nor Mrs. Chen gave any indication that she was working for him.
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The Sir Eliot reference is to a character in Jane Austen's Persuasion, where the main character's father manages to dampen everyone's spirits with his formal presence. Clark doesn't mean to, but the Titans can't help but be a bit more formal and uncomfortable in his presence.
Any and all comments welcome!