Chapter 20: Disordered Part One
A/N: Hello again, folks! We're coming at you with another installment, and this one's a doozy! If you're reading this as it came out, you'll notice two notifications for two different chapters. That's not an error, it's two chapters in one! Due to the sheer volume of what we wanted to cover, we decided it would be better for everyone if we split this chapter in two! If you're curious why we did so, it's because the document we wrote it as was 60 pages long before we finished! So sit back, and enjoy as we get into some heavy subjects.
Original Characters created by myself, Batmarcus, Ghost Fire 6. Editing done by Lord Zeppelin.
October 16, 21:32 EST, Hall of Justice; Three Hours Post Simulation
Batman stood in the trophy area of the Hall of Justice, staring at an old photograph. It was of the League at their debut press conference, shortly after they had come together to thwart Loki. "Feeling nostalgic?" Batman didn't even turn his head to look at Captain America as he approached him, the Caped Crusader looking at the photograph of Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, Martian Manhunter, Flash, Iron Man, Thor, The Hulk, and Captain Marvel.
"It all used to be so simple. Back then, it felt like everything was more straightforward. Like any issue we had, it could be wrapped up with a few minutes of discussion. Now, for the first time, Steve, I have no idea what to say or do here." Batman admitted.
"I understand, Bruce. It feels like every day, it's getting harder to know who the good guys are, who the bad guys are, and where the lines are. But it's up to us to hold tight to who we are, and hope we can find our way through the dark times." Captain America replied.
"Are they ready?"
"Yes."
"And… they are not happy, are they?"
"That is… putting it lightly."
"Time to face the music, old chum." The League's co-chairs headed into the meeting area, the door opening to reveal Hawkeye, Mockingbird, Flash, Iron Man, Black Panther, Vixen, Wonder Woman, Aquaman, Green Arrow, Spider-Man, Wolverine, Martian Manhunter, and oddly enough, Superman. And outside of costume, there was Rudolph and Mary West, Helena Sandsmark, Paula Nyugen, and Calvin Durham and Shalaina of Atlantis. "Thank you all for coming on such short notice." Captain America began, only to be cut off not by a league member, but by Pepper Stark.
"Steve, spare us the pleasantries. What is happening, or has happened to the kids?" She asked, and the two co-chairs exchanged a look.
"Earlier today, we initiated a telepathic training exercise. The Team was placed into a telepathic reality, devised by Martian Manhunter, to prepare them for the event that the League failed to protect the world from a Planetary-Level threat. The scenario was designed to be a no-win scenario, one designed to always result in failure."
"What the hell?!" Rudolph West exclaimed. "Look, I respect the hell out of you guys, but I didn't sign up to allow Wally to be put through nightmare scenarios."
"Easy, Rudy. We do a scenario like this once a year with the League. Helps us prepare for the worst." Flash said, trying to calm his brother-in-law down. "It's like a… bad dream, I guess. It's not real."
"But we wouldn't be here, if all had gone according to plan, would we?" Spider-Man pointed out and the lack of anything resembling happiness in his tone didn't help the tense feeling in the room, and Batman gave a grim nod.
"Upon being placed in the scenario… things went awry. What should have been a routine exercise became anything but, as the Team's subconscious minds overtook the simulation. They all soon came to believe that everything they experienced was real."
"What… kind of scenario was it?" Paula asked, fear evident in her voice.
"The Justice League would have been wiped out by an invading alien race, forcing the Team to step up and act as Earth's heroes. The trouble was, no matter what they did, the situations were made to get worse." Batman said carefully.
"So, when things went wrong you pulled them out right?" Helena asked, biting her lip and hoping that the worst she was about to be told was that her daughter was just going to be asleep a little longer than normal.
"We tried to do that." Captain America said in a tone that said he was choosing his words as carefully as possible.
"Tried!? What do you mean you tried, Steve!? When things go wrong you pull them out, that's how these simulations are supposed to work, right!?" Pepper demanded.
"We underestimated the collective emotions of a dozen teenagers. Their subconsciouses all overwhelmed Manhunter; their raw emotions feeding the simulation and causing it to grow stronger." Wonder Woman narrowed her eyes at Batman's words, seeing through the obvious lie, but she held her tongue as Calvin Durham cleared his throat.
"So… why couldn't you just call it off? Y'know, pull the plug on the whole thing?"
"Because the simulation had grown so powerful, so vivid, that we could not terminate without risking serious psychological harm. Even with the aid of Jean Grey of the X-Men, we could not untangle them. And they all believed it to be so real, they did not wake, even when they fulfilled the criteria that should have allowed them to awaken." Manhunter explained.
"But… they're awake. Ca… Scarlet Spider came home and fell on his face, asleep." Roland Alenko stated.
"Yes, we were eventually able to slip Manhunter into the simulation, from which he was able to dispel the simulation. However, in the process of doing so, each member of the Team experienced their 'death.' What they experienced took a toll on them. Some more than others." Cap admitted.
The silence that followed seemed to stretch on forever, and unfortunately when it broke, it was not in calm tones.
"I'M SORRY!? ARE YOU TELLING ME THAT MY TEENAGE DAUGHTER HAD TO EXPERIENCE WHAT IT'S LIKE TO DIE!?" Helena Sandmark demanded standing from her chair so fast it fell to the ground.
"The experience would have been like entering a coma. It would have been more like… a dreamless sleep." Manhunter explained, for all the good it did.
"And that's supposed to make it better?!" Mary West yelled. "Not only would they have experienced their own deaths, but they would have seen their friends die! My boy thinks the world of each and every person on that Team, and he'd have had to watch them drop like flies!"
"As sad as it is to say… they all knew the risks. I'm not a fan of this either, but every single person on that Team knows there's a risk."
"They're kids! They're so young, they all think this is one, big game!" Paula protested.
"That isn't true, and we all know it. As much as I understand your feelings right now, Mrs. Crock, you more than most here are aware that they all know the risks." Batman said in a firm and surprisingly calm voice for a man facing a room full of angry parents and guardians.
"As much as I hate to play Devil's Advocate, Batman's right." Hawkeye spoke up. "They all know what's at stake, every time they go out there. I can't exactly say I'm thrilled with this either, but I know both of them well enough to know they wouldn't have put them through that if they didn't think the Team could handle it."
"Hawkeye's not entirely wrong, but knowing the risks and experiencing the worst aren't the same thing." Iron Man said as his faceplate slid up so he could look Steve in the eye, "Cap, tell us, please, what happened in the simulation and after you got them out?"
"They… acted as we thought they would. They stepped up, they fought tooth and nail to protect the world, and… it was all for naught. And the experience… it shook them. Some, more than others." J'onn explained.
"The purpose of this meeting was to inform you all of what is happening. So you could be aware of the turmoil they're dealing with. We know that teenagers can be… less than forthcoming. We simply don't want you all to worry."
"And just what is your plan for that, Captain?" Black Panther asked. "The very nature of being a parent is to worry. We all thank you for your candor and informing us in person, but I believe I speak for everyone here when I say that this cannot go unaddressed."
"I agree with, uh, His Highness. How are we supposed to deal with this?" Helena asked.
"They're tough kids who have been through tough situations before, but we do have a plan. Black Canary has already volunteered to help. She's a trained psychologist, with a specialization in superhuman-related issues, in addition to having been through a thing or two herself. The Team already knows and trusts her, and if anyone can help them through this… it's her." Captain America acknowledged.
"We'll be keeping them out of the field for a while. Until she and they feel they can resume work."
"And until we all approve putting them back in the field." Pepper cut in
"Seconded." Mockingbird agreed, earning nods from all the parents and guardians.
"Of course. We would never presume to undercut your roles in all this." Batman stated. "And… you have our deepest apologies. We… We never wanted this to happen. I hope you'll trust us to fix this." He pleaded, and the guardians all exchanged a look.
"We will. For now." Mary said, her tone neutral.
"This has been a lot to take in for us all. I think it would be best to go be with our kids for right now." Paula admitted, receiving nods as the guardians all began to leave the room accompanied by Batman to be Zeta Beamed home.
However, while many had left, Captain America found himself alone with the Starks, both of whom looked less than pleased.
"I didn't want to bring this up in front of the others, Cap, but I assume now's the time you tell me why my son hasn't come home when it seems like the others all have?" Tony asked.
Steve let out a breath and nodded, "Yes, it is. Sorry, but not too long after they were all pulled from the simulation, we had an unexpected development, even more than the rest of this."
"Oh, that's comforting." Pepper said in a venom-laced tone.
"It's nothing bad, not like the rest of this… just unique. Tell me, have either of you heard of a girl named Rihanna Williams?" Cap asked, only to be met with a confused look from Tony, but recognition from Pepper.
"That's the girl Nolan's been visiting Chicago a lot to see recently, isn't it?" She asked.
"Wait, he has?" Tony asked.
"Yeah, you think he wouldn't tell me about her? Or that I wouldn't keep track of where he Zeta Tube's off to all the time lately?" Pepper asked.
"I mean I didn't. He's never even brought her up to me." Tony said, confused.
"We can talk about this later. Steve, what does she have to do with this?" Pepper asked, turning back to the League co-chair, who sighed, rubbing his eyes and starting his short story.
Happy Harbor, October 16, 18:52 EST Twenty Minutes Post-Simulation
Steve felt truly awful as he stared at the room full of teenagers, from M'Gann currently crying into Shazam's chest, to Francis, who was simply staring at his hands, to Nolan who seemed to be muttering to himself through tears. Nothing he could say would make this right. Batman and Manhunter were currently contacting Canary and the teens' elders. That wasn't something he was looking forward to, this was going to take some time and work. He really couldn't see how things could get worse.
In retrospect, he should have known better than to wonder that. As no sooner had he thought it, than one of the cave's alarms began to blare out. Even more concerning, the teens each seemed to recoil from the sound instead of readying for battle. Steve picked up his shield, heading towards the far side of the room as the computer's voice rang out.
"Warning: Unidentified person or persons attempting to activate Zeta Tube transport. System failsafes being overridden. Access granted. Unknown personnel arriving at the current location."
"What…?" Captain America wasn't the most tech savvy person around, but he had never heard the Zeta Tubes make any of those sounds before. What's more, Tony and Bruce had gone through and individually agreed there were very few people who could even attempt to hack them.
Steve was running through possibilities in his head, Luthor? No he was bold, but had a public image to maintain. Doom? Not beyond him, but also not his style. Armin Zola? He was pretty sure Tony had trapped him in a flash drive. Maybe this was someone new? Regardless, he readied his shield, ready for a fight as the Zeta Tube came to life…
And out came a short, young, African-American teenage girl, who was glaring daggers at almost everyone in the room, before her gaze landed on the young Stark boy.
"Nolan!" she exclaimed as she rushed over to Nolan, who looked up and saw who had entered The Cave, and for a moment seemed to slightly snap out of his funk.
"Rihanna?!" He exclaimed, confused and just slightly relieved as she practically tackled into and hugged him tightly, taking notice of his present state.
"What happened!? You went silent for hours, and then when you came back you seemed off and started crying. I got really worried, and angry, you said you were doing a training exercise." She said in a fast and worried voice.
"I'm sorry, young lady, but who are you and how did you get here?" Captain America asked.
She spun to face him, shielding Nolan in a very protective manner, even glaring at Cap, "My name is Rihanna Williams. What did you do to Nolan!?" She demanded further confusing the Sentinel of Liberty.
"Riri, you… you left the house." Nolan said shakily from behind her. She blinked, her eyes going wide as she seemed to finally take in everything around her and gasped, staring at her phone then Nolan, then back to Cap.
"Yeah, and shocking as that is, I also just hacked League tech. I was just so angry and worried about you, I didn't even think and… Oh wow, I just yelled at Captain America. I'm so sorry. A lot just happened. I suppose I should probably introduce myself better. I'm Rihanna Williams, like I said. Tech genius, agoraphobic (until a few minutes ago, apparently), and Nolan's girlfriend for about a month now… Hi." She said waving to those around her a nervous smile and slight blush on her face.
"Miss Williams… I think we need to have a talk."
Now
"Nolan's got a girlfriend…?" Tony asked in shock.
"I feel like that isn't the take away here." Pepper muttered.
"I know, I know just… a lot to process there. I didn't think Nolan liked people like that, you know? And he didn't even tell me."
"Later. Steve, where are they now?"
"After she expressed a few… colorful criticisms about the day's events, she took Nolan with her to her mother's house in Chicago."
"And you just… let her take our son, in the midst of a mental breakdown, to Chicago?"
"She seemed trustworthy, and Nolan indicated that that's what he wanted. She didn't seem untrustworthy, and I figured it was the best place for him right now." Steve explained, and Tony sighed.
"This is a mess…" The billionaire muttered.
"You need to talk to him, Tony."
"I know, Pep, but Stark men don't talk about anything until they're ready. The best move right now is to just give him some space." Tony answered, and turned to Steve. "Thank you, Steve. I know you and Bruce didn't mean for this to happen. And for what it's worth… good luck. I have a feeling you'll need it."
"On that, Tony, we can agree."
October 19, Space, 12:32
Just past the moon, the space rippled and distorted, before it opened up. A ship was deposited into the cold, empty void, looking over the planet Earth. "Really, this place? Out of all the planets in all the systems, it brought us here?"
"Hey, I'm not exactly thrilled to be back here either. Trust me, this is the last place I wanted to come back to."
"You're being too harsh. My most precious memories are here on this world. It may be primitive, but it has a charm, a beauty, a-"
"The place is literally named 'dirt.' No offense, Princess, but I ain't exactly sure what you see in this place."
"I dunno, man, you'd actually fit in good with some of the people down here…"
"No offense, but I'm not exactly rushin' to pal around with a buncha hairless apes. Hey, Muscles, is the signal down there or not?"
"If you quit bickering for a moment, I might actually be able to scan the planet."
Ping
"Well?"
"It is indeed on this planet. The signal leads to the western hemisphere, to the eastern seaboard."
"Man, so many weird coincidences…"
"Enough of your lamentations. Our prize finally lies in sight. And nothing will stand in our way!"
Mount Justice, 14:32 EST
Connor was staring at the floor, counting the individual fibers on the carpet in the private meeting room. When he eventually lost count of the carpet fibers, he went on to focusing on the pebbles in the small waterfall next to them, before focusing on the waterfall itself. Anything to keep from looking at Black Canary sitting across from him.
"I can only imagine how devastating it must have been. Having to watch your friends, in essence your family, perish around you, all the time convinced that it was completely real.
I'm sure it must have been horrible for you…" She was met with pure silence; just the Teen of Steel sulking in his chair. "I understand, you're Superboy. You're not supposed to feel sadness, or be upset. But Connor, internalizing all that-"
"You don't know what I feel." He spat.
"Then help me understand. Tell me how you feel, and we can-"
"I'll pass." Superboy growled out. "How much longer do I have to just sit here?"
"Technically, you don't. This is all voluntarily. No one's forcing you to be here, but-"
"Good, then I'm out." Superboy said, standing up and striding from the room as Black Canary sighed. He had been one of the one's she knew would take more time. Forcing him to talk would only make him want to less. She would let him be for now.
Superboy stormed through the hall, and through the lounge area. The rest of the Team, sans Nolan, was still sulking, all of them clearly still reeling from the simulation three days prior. T'zari stared at a television screen full of static, Jason brooded in the corner, M'gann lazily stirred cake batter, and the others were in similar states of brooding. When Connor walked through, Cassie looked up, making eye contact with him. She awkwardly smiled, giving him a small wave.
…grabbed the back of his head, pressing her lips to his…
Connor tensed up and looked away, storming off. Cassie's smile fell, and she sighed as she slinked into her chair.
Superboy went to the garage, getting on his motorcycle and helmet. He didn't need to talk. What he needed was some fresh air. To clear his head. As he grabbed the bike keys, the half-kryptonian heard chirping behind him. Superboy looked to see Sphere, rolling around him. "I'll be right back. I just… need some air." He said to the orb, and attempted to walk to his bike, only for Sphere to cut in front of him. "Hey, what's the big deal?" Sphere's lights flashed as it chirped, continuing to move erratically.
"Where are you going?" A voice asked, and Superboy turned around to see Vision standing behind him. "According to Batman, all field activities are currently suspended."
"I'm not going on a mission. I just… need some air."
"I did not notice any fluctuations in the air filtration of the cave, but your Kryptonian senses could be more acute than my sensors. If you detect any errors, perhaps addressing it with-"
"No, it's… it's an expression. It means I need to get out of here, clear my head." The synthezoid's head tilted, processing his answer.
"Ah, my apologies. Carter has been attempting to teach me about expressions, but I am still having difficulty with the concept. There are so many to remember." The artificial Team member stated.
"Don't worry, you'll get it. What are you even doing here? Shouldn't you be doing Canary's little therapy?"
"I do not have any need for psychological counseling for trauma. As my brain is artificial, I was not affected by Miss Martian's telepathic abilities as you all were."
"Lucky you. Now, if you'll excuse me…" Superboy went to open the door to the hangar, Sphere chirping as the hangar door opened.
*Beep Chirp Click*
"Yes, I agree, he is quite irate. More so than usual."
*Beep Beep Chirp*
"Human reactions continue to confuse me as well." At Vision's last sentence, Connor's eyes widened, as he turned to see Vision talking to Sphere.
"Wait, you can understand him?"
"Hm? Oh, yes. Can you not?"
"Uh, no."
"Hm, fascinating. I was under the impression that all of us could understand her. I wonder why…"
*Beep Click Chirp*
"That certainly is plausible, I agree. There is still so much of the Gem's origins and capabilities I am unaware of." At this exchange, Superboy let out a sigh.
"Translation?"
"Sphere theorizes that the Gem that gave life to me enables me to intonate her meanings. It really is quite fascinating."
"Weird… Wait, Sphere's a girl?"
"Not quite as it applies to your understanding of such concepts, but yes."
"Learn something new every day…" Superboy muttered. "Then can you figure out why she's acting so weird?" Superboy asked, as Sphere let out a series of beeps and chirps.
"Hm, fascinating… She wishes to know why you are leaving the cave on such a small vehicle."
"I don't want to ask M'Gann for her ship. We all just need some space." Superboy said.
Sphere gave another series of chirps and beeps, "She says that she can provide a better vehicle. One that fits us both."
"I'm not so sure about that. Seems like a cramped ride." Sphere backed up and then began to transform. Sphere began to unfold, changing shape until it was a large, red tricycle with large, blue wheels, and plenty of seating.
"Holy…!" Superboy gasped out, as Sphere finished the transformation. "I don't… She could do that this entire time?!" Sphere gave a few more chirps.
"She says… 'you never asked.'" Vision stated, and Superboy couldn't help but smile as he examined the craft. Superboy leapt into the seat with the handlebars, looking down at Vision.
"Up for a little joyride?"
"Indeed. I believe this will provide excellent 'male bonding', as Wally likes to say." The synthezoid stated, floating into one of the passenger seats. Superboy revved the engine, feeling the bike roar. He revved it again, all three wheels screeching as he tore out of the hangar, until it flew into the sky.
"Whoa!" Superboy exclaimed, as he got to a stable altitude. Within minutes, Happy Harbor was in the distance behind him, as he and Vision flew over the ocean. "Now this is a bike!"
Back in the Cave, Batman and Black Canary ran to the open hangar bay door, the two Team members already a small dot in the sky. "Superboy, Vision, return to Cave!"
"Superboy, Vision, return to Cave!" Batman's voice yelled back at him, the Caped Crusader looking down to see Superboy's communicator on the ground. "Hrmm…"
"Wonderful. Still, I guess this is better than him trying to punch something…" Canary sighed out. "Let him go. If this is how he needs to work through this, then we have to let him."
"I suppose you're right. We've got our work cut out for us here, anyway…"
Artemis
Artemis was laying back in her chair, looking Dinah straight in the eye. "Look, I appreciate what you guys are doing, but I don't need this. I'm Coma Girl, remember? I was the one who caused the whole damn thing, so I got to miss out on all the fun. Didn't get the trauma, didn't watch anyone die, didn't get fancy new duds, either. No need for the whole therapy thing."
"Because you're too tough to need help. Or… too tough to admit you need help, I suppose."
"Hey, you know how I grew up. Wasn't exactly a place that let you show weakness."
"But opening up isn't a sign of weakness, especially among your friends." Dinah stated, earning a noticeable tense up from Artemis.
"I know that…" She all but hissed through gritted teeth, and Dinah leaned forward.
"But… you still keep secrets from them." Artemis's eyes went wide as saucers, as she sat straight up.
"Y-you can't tell them!"
"I would never. But you should. Not the whole truth, not right away, but gradually. Starting with the fact that you're not really Green Arrow's niece."
"Pfft, right. Can you imagine what Wally would do about that?" Dinah raised an eyebrow at this, folding her hands together.
"Interesting. So the person you're most worried about learning who you really are isn't Kaldur, Francis, Jason, or even Laura, but Wally." Artemis' eyes widened at Canary's statement, her mind going a mile a minute as she stared at the older blonde, before looking away.
"... I don't know what you're talking about."
Kaldur
"I was the general, but I acted as a soldier. When the time came, I sacrificed myself without a second thought. I was their leader, and I left them behind." The Atlantean lamented, head bowed in shame.
"You bought them time to get away. You were faced with difficult decisions, and you made the decision you thought was best."
"And in doing so, I foisted my responsibilities on others, forcing them to bear burdens that should have been mine. I… I am unfit for leadership. I wish to tender my resignation as leader."
"Who would you have take your place?" The fighter asked, as Kaldur thought.
"Artemis is too raw, and untrusting. Kid Flash, too rash and impulsive. Miss Martian is too eager to please. X-23's people skills are… lacking. Batgirl is a fighter, not a leader. Robin fights his own demons. Superboy lets his anger cloud his judgment. White Wolf has his own responsibilities and duties. Vision is still learning who he is. Wonder Girl is too inexperienced. Iron Knight, too gripped by his own insecurities."
"Leaving only two options: Scarlet Spider and Trickshot."
"Both fine options."
"But…?" Dinah asked, and Kaldur sighed.
"Neither actively seeks leadership, despite taking to the roles naturally. Francis is a natural strategist, but he overthinks things, doubting his own decisions. And Carter, as charismatic as he can be, is no planner, and acts before he thinks. Neither is ready…" Kaldur sighed, interweaving and tenting his fingers together as he leaned his forehead onto his hands. The Atlantean let out a sigh, looking back up at Dinah. "I… withdraw my resignation."
Francis
Francis yawned and rubbed his eyes as he sat in the chair, Canary taking note of the bags under his eyes. "Sorry, I don't mean to yawn. Had a rough night. You know how it is."
"More than you know. No apologies necessary." Dinah stated. "Francis… I spoke with your parents. They told me you haven't been sleeping, that you've barely been eating. Tell me, what's on your mind?" She asked, and Francis sighed.
"I can't stop replaying those last few hours in my head."
"You mean after Kaldur fell, and you assumed command."
"Yeah. I just… can't stop thinking of what I could have done differently."
"You were facing a difficult situation, one designed to constantly work against you. The League and your friends were gone, and the Earth was in danger. You did all you could. Any strategy you enacted would have simply been defeated, with no way of winning."
"It's not the losing that gets me. It's… it's what I did." Dinah's brow furrowed in confusion, leaning forward.
"What do you mean?"
"The plans I made. I sacrificed Superboy and Laura without a second thought. I let Wally cling to the hope that we'd find everyone alive and well, even though I knew that we wouldn't. I treated my friends as pawns, just pieces in my plans."
"You had just watched your leader, your friends, and your family die. You made the choices you thought were best."
"That's not it."
"Then what is it?" She asked, and Francis frowned as he searched for the words.
"It's… how easy it all was." Dinah frowned, cocking her head to the side in confusion.
"What do you mean by 'easy'?"
"When Kaldur died, we were without a leader. Everyone was panicking, trying to figure out our next move. And it felt like… like a switch flipped, and all of a sudden I was giving orders, telling people what to do, and coming up with plans." Francis explained, and Dinah saw not just uncertainty, but fear. "And the part that really scares me, the part that's keeping me up at night? Every part of it felt… right."
Cassie
Cassie was sitting across from Canary, fidgeting with the chair as her leg bounced. "I understand you're not the biggest fan of therapy, Cassie. Not that I blame you, after Loki infiltrated your life and manipulated you into meeting the Team. But I promise you, I'm only here to help you."
"I know that, Miss Lance. And I know that you're not like him, or that doctor at Belle Reve. I just… I don't even know what to say." The demigod replied, letting out a sigh. "This is definitely not where I saw my life going a month ago."
"You've certainly been through quite the whirlwind. Loki, Cheetah, the Reds, Belle Reve, the Masters… but you've done more than adapt to your new situation; you thrive in it. You're a natural fighter, and you've gotten a handle on your abilities faster than anyone I've seen. Diana says you're a natural, and I'm inclined to agree." Dinah stated, Cassie slightly smiling, before her smile fell.
"For all the good it did us in there." She lamented, staring at the waterfall. "You know… I thought that was it, y'know. What Loki tried to warn us about, why he arranged for me to meet Diana. He said that, when the day came, that I'd be the champion of the Old Gods, and that I would help turn the tide against whatever he said was coming. So when the League fell, and then Artemis died… I thought that was what he came to warn us about."
"And you thought that you were the key?"
"Yeah, I did. I thought that I was what was going to turn the tide, so I decided I was going to sacrifice myself so that Connor and the others could get away." Cassie explained, causing the older blonde to raise an eyebrow, but she said nothing as Cassie continued to speak. "And then… I died. Yeah, I blew up a few ships, but then I got killed, just like the others. I barely made a difference. And what I can't stop thinking about is… whatever spooked Loki is going to be worse than that. So what the hell am I going to do about it?"
Jason
"Batman was dead. He left me his symbol, his mantle, because he thought that I could carry it on. That I would be able to carry it on. And I died, barely ten minutes later." The Teen Wonder lamented. "I mean, I shouldn't be surprised. How the hell was I supposed to be Batman?"
"Don't beat yourself up over what happened in there, Jason. The scenario was designed to be unwinnable."
"Batman would've found a way. He always does."
"He doesn't, and you're not him. Nor does he expect you to be. He left that for you because he feels that you're worthy of it, because of who you are."
"But it wasn't enough. It's… it's never enough." Jason remarked, staring at the floor. "Sometimes… sometimes, when I fight a criminal, I… hurt them."
"As do we all. It's not a particularly pleasant part of the job, but we all do it."
"Not like that. Sometimes, I… I hurt them more than I have to. A broken arm when I could have just disarmed it, breaking a jaw when I didn't have to, hitting their heads harder than I needed to. I've gotten better at holding it back, but sometimes it still slips out. And sometimes…" Jason trailed off, and Dinah leaned forward.
"Sometimes what, Jason?"
"Are you going to tell Batman about this? About… any of it?"
"No. Nothing you say leaves this room." Dinah answered, and the second Robin took a deep breath.
"Sometimes I feel like we don't go far enough. That… that the truly bad people don't just need to hurt, they need to… they need to die." Dinah frowned, leaning forward.
"That's a dangerous line to walk. Have… you ever crossed that line before?"
"No. Maybe. I don't know…" Jason trailed off, letting out a sigh. "Not long after I became Robin, I was on patrol. I heard a scream from a hotel window. The woman inside had been assaulted by the guy she was with, and I took him into custody. But the guy… he was connected. His dad was some sort of diplomat, so he had immunity. Batman tried finding some legal loophole to take him down, but while we were doing that, he harassed the woman, to the point she… she took her own life. Something inside me snapped, and I went after him. I cornered him at his penthouse, and…" Jason swallowed the lump in his throat.
"… and he fell. Batman said that his penthouse was old and cut corners, and that the railing gave out. But… it's all a blur. I remember getting to his penthouse, I remember being angry, and then he was on the ground. The one thing I don't remember, even all these years later… is whether or not I pushed him."
Eastern Seaboard, 16:32 EST
"Now this is a bike!" Superboy exclaimed, as Sphere zoomed over the ocean. Vision was in the seat behind him, his face noticeably more emotionless than the grin on Superboy's face, his yellow cape billowing in the wind. "How ya doin' back there, Viz?! Feelin' the wind blowin' through your hair?!"
"I do not possess hair! But I can see how the feeling of increased wind shear can be exhilarating!"
"That's the spirit! Now, let's see what our girl can do!" Superboy revved the engine, performing loop-de-loops in mid-air as he zoomed over the coast. However, down in the trees, he was being observed.
"Here they come! Everyone got their game faces on?"
"I only got the one face, jackass."
"No, it's an expression that… you're doing this on purpose."
"He's learning! It's a miracle!"
"Will you all please just focus? The sooner this is done, the sooner you're paid, and I can go home."
"He's right. Let's get to work."
Superboy and Vision flew over an outcropping of trees, only for Sphere to begin chirping erratically. "What's she saying?"
"She has detected a weapons lock. Evasive maneuvers are recommended!"
"From what?!" No sooner did Superboy ask his question did a missile fly out of the trees. Superboy veered to avoid it, but the explosion knocked them off course, sending them careening to the ground. Superboy and Vision leapt off Sphere as she reverted back to Sphere mode, landing in an outcropping of trees. "The hell was that?!"
"A projectile, but I do not believe it was intended to damage our craft. Rather, to force us out of the sky."
"By who?!" Superboy's question was immediately answered as wooden vines burst out of the ground, ensnaring both him and Vision.
"I don't know if this is Ivy again, but whoever it is is really starting to piss me off!" Superboy yelled, starting to break the branches as Vision simply phased through them with ease and started to fire at more approaching wooden vines. Superboy looked in the direction it was coming from, seeing their attackers.
The one generating the vines could only be described as a walking, humanoid tree that stood at about eight feet tall. On its shoulder was what could only be described as a racoon wearing an armored orange jumpsuit with ammo pouches all over it, holding a smoking rifle that was almost as big as it was.
Flying over them on some sort of hovering harness – with technology markings vaguely similar to Sphere's – was a large, muscular man in a red uniform, wearing a silver helmet with similar engravings. Next to him was a rather tall, humanoid woman with orange skin and long, flaming orange hair wearing a purple two piece outfit that left her midriff exposed, green energy encircling her hands as she flew over them.
Landing in the clearing was a woman with green skin a lighter shade than M'gann's, black markings around her eyes, with short dark hair with red highlights at the tips, wearing a primarily black outfit with white armor around her chest, holding a sword that glinted dangerously in the afternoon sun. And finally, was a man who appeared human, wearing a red jacket with "STAR LORD'' emblazoned on the back in big, green letters, wearing a black helmet with red eyes, blonde hair peeking out from the top.
"Good afternoon, gentlemen! Sorry to interrupt your afternoon drive, but we figured that it'd be a bit easier than a chase up and down the East Coast." The man in the red jacket declared, and Superboy narrowed his eyes.
"You've got a funny way of saying hello."
"Eh, just singed a little hair off. Nothin' you humies can't grow back." The raccoon declared, much to Connor's shock, but before he could question that, the man on the flying harness hovered in front of them.
"You have something that does not belong to you. Return the New Genisphere at once, and we'll let you leave with your lives!" He warned, and Superboy clenched his fist.
"I dunno what a New Geni-whatsit is, but what I do know is that I don't like people blastin' me out of the sky. I don't know who you are, but-"
Connor was cut off by Sphere rolling in between him and Muscle Man, beeping and chirping erratically.
Beep whir click
Ping
Muscle Man's eyes widened at the ping from his harness. "You. Angry one. How did you come upon the New Genisphere?" He asked, and Superboy raised an eyebrow.
"You talkin' to me?"
"He's not talking to your robot friend. Start talking." The green-skinned woman stated, but Superboy stayed on guard.
"I found her being experimented on by some jerks in the desert. Me and my friends freed her, and she came back with us. I dunno how they got her, but I'm not exactly ready to let anyone take her back." Superboy warned. Sphere chirped a few more times, prompting another PING from the harness, earning a set of narrowed eyes from Muscle Man.
"He speaks the truth. Neither of them are the thieves we seek." He explained.
"I am Groot?"
Ping
"
Yes, that is part of the technology we seek, but not all of it. But neither of these individuals are responsible. The New Genisphere vouches for both of them." Muscle Man stated, and the raccoon sighed.
"And here I was hopin' to get to blow somethin' up…"
"Day's still young…"
"Will someone tell me what is going on, and who the hell you people are?!" Superboy yelled, as the man in the jacket holstered both his guns.
"Stand down, everyone." He ordered, pressing a button on the side of his helmet. The helmet seemed to recede away, revealing a Caucasian human male in his mid-30's. "Sorry about that. We all got off on the wrong foot, so let's try again. My name is Peter Quill, but folks call me Star-Lord." Quill gestured up to Muscle Man and Orange Woman flying overhead. "The guy in the shiny helmet is Orion, and the lady with the flaming hair is Starfire." He pointed over to the green-skinned woman. "Over there is Gamora-" And then to the tree and the Racoon. "And over there are Groot and Rocket. And together, we are… The Guardians of the Galaxy."
"... The who?" At Superboy's question, Quill winced.
"Y'know, the legendary heroes for hire? The hired guns who'll take any job, kick any ass who needs kicking?"
"Never heard of you."
"I told you we needed to make that commercial when we had the chance!" Rocket scolded as he hopped off of Groot.
"It is not a matter of branding, Rocket. This planet has barely made contact with their planetary neighbors, they wouldn't have heard of our exploits outside of this solar system." Starfire explained as she landed.
"Seriously? Aren't Stewart and Jordan from this place? They can't be that disconnected."
"And that sleazeball, Gardner is from here as well. If we run into him while we're here, I'm sticking that ring where it won't shine." Gamora remarked as she sheathed her blade.
"You people are all idiots." Orion growled as he landed on the ground, dismounting his platform and approaching Superboy. "The New Genisphere was stolen from my homeworld six of your months ago. I have scoured the cosmos for it, and at last, I have finally found it. Step aside, and let me reclaim it." He demanded, and Superboy narrowed his eyes as he glared back up at the taller man.
"I'll pass. First of all, I don't know you from any other asshole. How do I know you're not one of the jerks who sent her to Bialya in the first place?"
"I don't know what this 'Bialya' place is, nor do I care. If you rescued her from her tormentors, you have my thanks. But the New Genisphere is my property. I have gone to great lengths to find her, and I will not be thwarted by some child." The two glared at each other, before Quill stepped between them.
"Alright, guys, let's not go beating the hell out of each other just yet. Let's try and settle this like adults." The man bade, turning to Superboy. "If we're gonna try getting off on the right foot, it's only fair we know who you two are." Superboy glared at Orion for another second, before looking at Quill.
"That's Vision next to me, and I'm Con… Superboy."
"Superboy…?" Starfire muttered aloud. "I was not aware that Superman had any children." Superboy's face twisted back into it's scowl.
"He doesn't." He all but growled. "It's a long story."
"I can only imagine. But if you are anything like him, I know that you are an honorable soul."
"Thanks…"
"Alright, so Star says you're good, and she's usually a pretty good judge for this sort of thing, so that's good enough for me." Peter stated. "So, Superboy, Vision, nice to meet you."
"Likewise, Peter Quill." Vision stated. "If I may inquire, was the New Genisphere all that was stolen from Orion's homeworld?"
"No. Several pieces of technology were stolen, and my home was damaged." Orion explained. "A team was dispatched to retrieve them, but they have gone silent. It is after that that I enlisted the aid of Quill and his gang of… 'heroes.'"
"Oh, Orion'sd didn't call us idiots. Write it down!"
"I am Groot."
"Wha…? No, I don't have anything to write with me! You think these pouches are for carryin' around paper?!" Rocket retorted, walking over to Superboy. "Muscles here has had us runnin' around in circles from one end of the galaxy to the other. The trail's lead us here, to this backwater mudball."
"Hey, some people are from this backwater!" Quill indignantly responded, but Gamora scoffed.
"Weren't you complaining the entire time we were landing about how 'boring' and 'lame' this planet was?"
"Well yeah, but I'm from here, so I'm allowed to say that!"
"Can we stay on topic for two minutes?" The Teen of Steel proposed. "Look, I'm sorry that your stuff got stolen, but I didn't see anything like Sphere when I freed her, or since. I know a guy who's pretty tech savvy, and he'd have noticed if we saw anything like that." He recounted, and Quill looked at Orion.
"Can you figure out if there's anything else on this planet?"
"Yes. One moment." Orion removed something from his harness, a small box slightly bigger than a smartphone, with glowing technology similar to Sphere's. Vision's head cocked to the side as he saw it, walking over to them.
"What… is that…?"
"Mother Box, the Living Computer. Made of the same technology that gave life to the New Genisphere." Orion explained, as Vision stared at it.
"Fascinating. I feel… a certain draw to her…" As Vision said that, Gamora's eyes narrowed, staring at the yellow gem on Vision's forehead.
"Hm…"
"Mother Box, scan and isolate any New Genesis signals on this planet." Orion declared. The Box gave a small PING and seemed to hum to life as they all waited and then, CLICK. A large holographic map appeared from the box. Several red dots were clustered together not too far from them.
"I know that place. That is Metropolis." Starfire stated.
"There, she's found the rest of the missing technology. It also seems like the signals of the Forever People are appearing and disappearing on and off nearby. Strange, why wouldn't they radio me as soon as we entered Earth space if they're here?"
"That's the first team that went missing, right?" Gamora asked, and the muscular man nodded.
"It is not like Vykin to be silent like this. I have an odd feeling."
"Well, standing around and talking about it won't do any good." Quill remarked, as Superboy stared at the red dots clustered in Metropolis.
"What does this tech do?"
"A drill used in excavating and rescue, as well as several transportation platforms."
"Is it dangerous?"
"As dangerous as any tool is in the wrong hands."
"Hrm…" Superboy grumbled. He looked at Vision, who gave a simple nod. "We'll give you a hand."
"I appreciate it, but you don't gotta do that. After we ambushed you like that, you've got more than a right to tell us to screw off." Quill reassured, but the half-Kryptonian shook his head.
"That stuff is right in the middle of Metropolis. If anything goes wrong with it, there's no telling who it could hurt. The right thing to do is to help you. Besides, I met my best friends after I knocked them out, so this is nothing in comparison."
"Having someone who knows the turf could help us out…" Gamora rationalized, and Quill shrugged.
"Fine by me. Though, The Milano's a little too conspicuous to take to Metropolis…"
Sphere chirped a few more times, before beginning to unfold. She assumed bike mode, before expanding and unfolding more seats.
"Works for me."
Wally
Dinah watched as Wally, currently seated upside down in a position that couldn't possibly be comfortable, tossed popcorn into his mouth. "So, you want me to believe that after everything you went through–including your own death from alien death beams–you're peachy?"
"It's 2019, Doc, no one uses the word 'peachy' anymore, but yeah. I'm absolutely peachy." Wally remarked as he tossed popcorn into his mouth."
"So, you have no interest in addressing your extreme reaction to Artemis' death?" As soon as those words left Dinah's mouth, Wally choked on his popcorn, rolling onto the ground as he coughed.
"I, uh, *cough cough* I don't see why we need to talk about her. I'd… I'd rather talk about you, gorgeous." Dinah clearly wasn't impressed.
"Wally, you're in denial."
"I'm comfortable with that." Wally remarked, and Canary sighed as he resumed eating his popcorn. It was clear that Wally had already fallen into his coping mechanisms, and that she wouldn't be able to easily get the truth out of him.
Cass
It had been ten minutes of pure silence, as Dinah and Cass stared at each other. Neither said a word, as the sound of the waterfall filled the room. Dinah cleared her throat, breaking the silence. "Barbara's told me a lot about you. If you'd feel more comfortable talking to her, then-"
"No." Cass bluntly stated. "Want… to talk to you."
"Then fire away. My job here is to listen, and to advise." She said, and the young Bat began to fidget.
"I was born… to be a weapon. To defeat any enemy. But against the aliens, I was useless. All my skills, training… useless."
"I understand how you feel. When I was your age, I prided myself on my combat abilities, but during my time with the X-Men, I encountered more than a few enemies that I couldn't best physically. You can't stop the Juggernaut with a Canary Cry alone." Canary recounted, and Cass frowned.
"What did you do?"
"I resolved to hone not just my body, but my mind as well. To come up with new strategies, and find new ways to best my opponents. It wasn't easy, but most things worth doing aren't."
"I… will try."
T'zari
"The world was in flames. Wakanda, which has stood against all challenges for centuries, was falling. And I did nothing. I made no effort to return, and at every opportunity, I refused to go, even as my country fell and my parents perished." T'zari lamented, his head in his hands.
"You said it yourself, your presence there would have made no difference. And you stayed where you could have best helped, where you thought the fight was. Anyone else would have made the same decision."
"But I am not anyone else!" The Wakandan yelled, sitting up. "I am the crown prince of Wakanda, heir to the throne held by my father, and his father before him, and countless rulers before them. Each of them lead Wakanda through hard times, holding fast against the tide of the outside world. My people needed me, and I stayed here, while they suffered!"
"T'zari, you chose to stay and fight beside your friends, not to go and throw your life away. There is no shame in that." Dinah reassured, as the young prince clenched the armrests.
"I thought with my heart, not with my head. I continue to act as a hero, not as royalty."
"And that's nothing to be ashamed of. You're not king, not yet. Your father asked you to stay with the Team so that you could experience life outside of royalty, and so that the experiences you gain can better help you when the day comes that you take his place on the throne." She reassured him. "Don't feel guilty just because you didn't do what he did. You're still young. Treasure that."
M'gann
"It was all my fault. Hello, Megan! Who else could take a simple exercise, and turn it into a nightmare that puts her friends into comas…" Rather than her bubbly, cheery attitude, M'gann's voice was defeated, sad, robbed of its usual spark. As she lamented the simulation, Dinah's brow furrowed as her green skin began to change, its pigment shifting into the Caucasian tone she used as Megan Morse.
"M'gann… you've turned white." M'gann gasped as her eyes went wide as saucers, bolting up.
"No!" She looked at her skin, her panic subsiding as she looked at her skin. "Oh. You meant… Caucasian. I'm sorry."
"None of you need to apologize for anything. You're all dealing with this in your own way." Dinah reassured, leaning forward. "Your shape shifting seems to be working. How are your mental abilities?"
"I'm fine being Megan, but my other powers… I can't be trusted to use them." The Martian half heartedly answered, earning a frown from Dinah.
"M'gann, you're a Martian. You not using your telepathy is like asking me not to speak. Which I tried, by the way. After my X-gene activated, and my first Canary Cry almost deafened my entire eighth grade field trip, I was scared of my own power. But then I spent time at the Xavier Institute, where I learned that my powers weren't anything to be scared of. Our use of them has to be honed, refined."
"But… what I did to everyone…"
"Was an accident. They all know that you would never do anything to hurt them, and they wouldn't want you to punish yourself by refusing to be yourself." Dinah explained. "Learn from what happened, and use it as motivation to do better. Your uncle would be more than happy to train you, and I'm sure Jean Grey would be more than happy to help. But punishing yourself, trying to deny who you really are… that's simply not a healthy way to live." M'gann tensed up, looking at her knees as Dinah's words sank in.
Nolan
"I'm a fraud." Nolan said in a defeated tone, confusing Dinah as the usually confident-seeming young man just stared at her, resting his head against his hands.
"Can you explain what you mean?" She asked carefully.
"I'm supposed to be the smart one. You know? Nolan Stark: Boy Genius. Able to think his way out of any situation… But in there, I wasn't. I tried, but I couldn't figure it out. If I were as smart as everyone thinks I am, I would have figured out it was a simulation. I should have. Yet I didn't. I also didn't even figure out a way to beat the aliens."
"The simulation was designed so you wouldn't have won anyway. You aren't a fraud for failing, you did everything you could've thought of in the moment, that's nothing to be ashamed of." Dinah reassured, but Nolan shook his head.
"It's not just then, it's… it's all the time. Cadmus without Riri, I don't know if I would have gotten us out. The Masters of Evil, I made a fantastic punching bag for Thawne. The rescue of Tornado, I recognized some notes and then my armor got wrecked and I was out of the fight, and Wally came up with the same solution I would have anyway. And in there, what good was I!? The only useful thing I managed to do was die!" Nolan was now running his hands through his hair; his breathing had picked up some; he looked slightly manic.
"Even then, when I thought I had finally been useful, it wasn't real. If dad had been in that situation he would have found a way! He would have figured the simulation out! Everyone my whole life has told me 'You're a Stark. We expect great things'. 'You're Tony's son, Iron Man's son, you'll do incredible things, it's in your blood'. Yet, when it matters the most I keep failing because I can't measure up to him. I'm not as good as my dad! I don't even really serve a purpose on this team because anything I can think of others that can, but better or faster!" Nolan slowed, slumping into the chair.
"I… I'll never be as good as dad, and maybe they're all better off without me getting in the way." he stated.
"You know, I said the same thing myself, once." She spoke up, causing his head to tilt up.
"What?"
"Do you know anything about my mother?" She asked, as Nolan's upset face turned to one of confusion.
"I, uh… I don't."
"From 1962, to when I was born in 1995, my mother was the first Black Canary. She was one of the only heroes active after the Justice Society disbanded in the 50's, and she helped save the world more than a few times. Even saved the President once, not that you'll find that in any history books. And she did it all without any powers, without anything we have now. All my mother had was a plucky attitude, decent hand-to-hand skills, and a blonde wig." Dinah explained.
"When I took up her name as a member of the X-Men, I couldn't stop comparing myself to her. I was always second guessing myself, and whenever I messed up, and I messed up a lot, I convinced myself she would have done better. When I was 19, at the prompting of my own therapist, I told her this. Do you want to know what she said?"
"Uh, sure."
"She said that she never once expected me to be like her. That everything I had accomplished was on my own merits, and that I'd already done things that she'd never dreamed of. Hearing that from her was like a weight lifted off my shoulder, and for the first time in my life, I felt like I was good enough. I stopped second guessing myself, and I finally felt confident in who I was." The Canary recounted, leaning forward. "Talk to your father, Nolan. Don't bottle this up any more."
Nolan sighed, but nodded.
Carter
"Things were going bad, fast. And then Kaldur was gone, as was Cass, T'zari, Nolan, Cassie, Jason… and we're all too busy arguing over whether or not everyone was still alive or not." Carter recounted.
"Where were you in all this?"
"Trying to keep Wally and Connor from going at it with Laura. Trying to act as… I dunno, the voice of reason, I guess? Keep everyone from tearing into each other until we figured something out. Which I guess Francis did…"
"Emotions were running high. Keeping everyone from giving in to their despair in a crisis is just as important as coming up with the winning strategy."
"I know that. I just… wish I could've done more, y'know?" The arachnid explained. "Francis took the burden all by himself, and I could see it bearing down on him by the minute. All I was able to do was keep Wally busy."
"You kept Wally from doing something stupid, and you wrote the speech that would have inspired hope all across the world. I know it might not seem like much, but keeping hope alive in times like that is no small feat, trust me." Dinah reassured him. "It doesn't matter if it's a speech, keeping someone busy, or even cracking a terrible joke. It doesn't matter what condition the body's in, if the spirit breaks."
Laura
Mount Justice, 15:16 EST
Laura was sitting in the lounge area with the others. Connor had just stormed through, and with her enhanced hearing, she could tell that he and Vision had just left on…Sphere? She had no idea what was happening, but she had other things to worry about. Since the simulation, Jason had been oddly distant, not that she was being emotionally available either, even by her standards. She'd been unable to sleep, too plagued by old memories that would be better served staying buried.
Canary soon entered the lounge, clearing her throat. "Alright, we're ready for whoever's next." Canary stated, getting met with silence throughout the room. The older hero sighed, looking over them. "Laura, would you like to go first?"
"Her reactions are still outside desired thresholds. Raise the intensity of the shocks, see if that can provoke the desired response."
Laura tensed up at the memory, bolting right up and heading to the direction of the Zeta Tubes. She walked past Batman and Martian Manhunter, entering in a series of coordinates into the Tube.
"Recognize, X-23. B-10." The Tube announced, getting Batman and Martian Manhunter's attention as the tube powered up.
"X-23, wait!" The Caped Crusader called out, but Laura was already gone. "J'onn access the logs, find out where she-"
"Don't bother." Canary stated as she entered the main area, letting out a sigh. "I had a feeling she was going to do this. She's got too much of her father in her. Let her go. Like Superboy, she'll do what she needs to do to work this out."
"Are you sure we shouldn't go after her?"
"No. If she's anything like her father, she'll be back in a few days. Now, if she kidnaps Artemis and goes to fight ninjas in Japan, then we need to be worried."
"I'm still going to pull the logs and find out where she went just in case." Batman sighed.
San Francisco, California. 12:49 PST
Laura was walking down the streets of San Francisco, clutching a piece of paper with an address on it in her hand. The mutant had entered a residential neighborhood, flanked by apartments on either side. She was starting to feel more and more nervous about this, but something told her this was the right thing to do.
She approached an apartment, staring at the number that matched what was written on her paper. Laura tucked her hands back into her jacket, her heart pounding in her ears as she walked up the steps to the door. She took a deep breath, before knocking. The heartbeat pounding in her ear grew louder and louder, before she heard the door unlock. The door opened to reveal a woman in her early 40's, with skin a healthy earthen tone, short dark hair, and green eyes that Laura couldn't help but note were similar to her own.
"Can I help you?" The woman asked, and Laura took a deep breath.
"Are you… Deborah Kinney?" She all but stammered out, and the woman nodded, visibly off put by the nervous girl in front of her.
"Yes… why?"
"Is your sister… Sarah Kinney?" If Deborah's face was confused before, that expression morphed to one of stern faced suspicion.
"Did someone put you up to this? Are you one of those kids who's been bullying my daughter? Because if this is all some sick joke, I swear to god I'll-"
"It's not a joke. I… I just needed to come here. To meet you." Laura explained, swallowing the lump in her throat. "My name… my name is Laura Kinney." Deborah's eyes went wide as saucers, as she began to take in the girl's features. "Sarah is… was… my mother."
"Oh my god…" Deborah gasped out, walking closer to get a better look at Laura. "You… you look just like her. You've got her eyes…" Deborah gasped out, tears welling up. "I… I don't… she never told me… where is she? Why haven't I heard from her in almost half a year?"
"It… it's a long story. I'm sorry, I didn't want to put you through this. I just… I needed to meet you, and-" Before Laura could say another word, Deborah pulled Laura into a tight hug.
"Just… don't say anything else. Let me treasure this feeling for a little while longer…" Deborah asked, and after a moment, Laura returned the hug. "Come inside. We… we have a lot to talk about."
A few minutes later, Laura was seated in Deborah's kitchen, visibly uncomfortable as Deborah prepared tea. "I'm sorry for treating you so coldly out there, earlier. My daughter Megan's been having some trouble at school lately, and I thought one of them decided to get a little too personal."
"It's no problem. I'd probably react the same way if someone came to my door like that." Laura reassured, as Deborah pulled a picture off the fridge.
"I can't believe I didn't see it at first. You're what, 15, 16?"
"Um…16."
"You're the spitting image of her at your age. Look!" Deborah bade, handing Laura the picture. It was of a much younger Deborah, arm around a woman who was indeed the spitting image of Laura, but a few years older. Her eyes widened as she saw the woman, with dark hair, striking green eyes, and the same confident smirk that Laura gave.
Laura's eyes became blurry, as she wiped away the tears that were about to flow. "Sorry. I'm sorry. I just… I've never had a picture of her before." It was clear that Deborah had questions, but for now, she let it go.
"Keep it. I've stared at that picture enough to last a lifetime." Deborah reassured with a smile, her smile taking on an air of sadness. "That was at… a New Years Eve party, 1999, I think. Sarah had just got a job at some fancy genetics lab, and we decided to party it up. That was a fun night… that I don't remember a lot of." She laughed, before her smile fell completely. "After that, I started seeing Sarah a lot less. We used to get together every other day, then it became once a week, then every two weeks, once a month… Eventually, I stopped seeing her outside of once every few months. I didn't even know she had a daughter…"
"It was a… complicated situation." Laura explained, clearly nervous. "The people she worked for… they were dangerous. She had to keep you at a distance, for your sake. If they thought you knew more than you should have, you could have been in real danger. But she did tell me about you. She told me about how you used to skip school to go hang out at the pier, how you used to distract your parents so she could sneak out of the house…"
"So she told you all our embarrassing secrets, huh?" Deborah joked, earning a smile from Laura, one that soon fell as Deborah's face turned serious. "Laura… I don't want to ask this question. I've wanted an answer for so long, but now that the answer's here, I can't seem to find my nerve. I won't force you to tell me, but-"
"Yes." Laura replied, both her and Deborah's eyes clouding with tears. "She's dead."
"Oh god…" Deborah sobbed out, tears falling down her face. "I knew something horrible had happened to her, I could feel it. The last time I spoke with her, she said she was preparing to do something dangerous, that I might never see her again. And when I didn't hear anything, I…" Deborah's sentence was cut off by a choked sob, Laura reaching over to squeeze her aunt's hand, which was returned. "How… how did it happen?" She asked, as Laura took a sharp intake of breath.
"There…"
The snow was stained red, forming a crimson halo around her…
"There was an accident. Like I said, the people she worked with were dangerous. They had her doing dangerous things, and when she tried to fix something, it… backfired."
The blood soaked through her clothes, she was staring at it covering her hands, the woman was reaching out to her, face understanding even now.
"That was in June. I've been with my father on the East Coast, ever since."
"Why am I only hearing about this now?"
"It's complicated. I looked you up, not long after, but… I couldn't find the courage to come. However, something happened recently and it made me realize I couldn't keep putting it off. You needed to know, and no one else was going to tell you." She explained.
"Laura… this is all a lot to take in. I don't even…" Deborah was cut off by the sound of the door opening, Laura becoming more tense as her eyes were on the door.
"Mom, I'm home!" A female voice called out, getting closer to the kitchen. "I had to go to like, three stores, but I found that candle you like! Also brought home some lunch, and-" The voice said as it rounded the corner, revealing the owner as a girl Laura's own age, with brown hair, blue eyes, and dark makeup, her face becoming confused as she saw Laura. "Uh, who's this?"
"Welcome home, Megan. I completely forgot to text you." Deborah greeted, gesturing to Laura. "This… is Laura. Your Aunt Sarah's daughter." Megan's eyes widened at this.
"I thought you hadn't heard from her in months. Since when does Aunt Sarah have a daughter?"
"Since about twenty minutes ago, apparently." Deborah answered, as Laura rose.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to intrude. I really should be going…"
"No, no, you're good. I'm just… a little shocked. Didn't have a cousin an hour ago." Megan explained. Deborah's phone vibrated, and she groaned as she saw the caller ID.
"Oh god… it's my work, I've gotta take this. Megan, why don't you take Laura to your room and you two get to know each other."
"Uh, sure. This way, Laura." Megan bade, and Laura sighed. So much for a clean getaway…
Stark Manor, Malibu California 15:30 PST
Nolan was sitting in his room, waiting on his dad. Even though he hadn't wanted to talk originally, Canary had made a great point. He needed to talk to his father, but he was nervous because really, he wasn't sure what to say. He was also afraid of what his dad would say. Riri had actually come along. He had wanted her to stay, but when he had seen how her face lit up upon seeing the lab, he hadn't been able to take her away. Besides, she had spent so long in her own home she deserved some time to enjoy herself.
As he was getting on edge, he stared at the drawer that contained the Extremis. It was ready, at least as far as he and Riri could tell. They had gone over it all back to front, and after months, they were as sure as they could be. Maybe it was time to…
"Master Nolan, your father is waiting to enter, would you like me to let him in?" Jarvis' computerized voice asked, shaking him back to reality. Jarvis wasn't anything advanced like Red Tornado or Vision, instead being more of an advanced digital assistant.
"Yeah, Jarvis, please open the door." He swallowed his throat dry as his dad stepped through dressed, in a suit and looking a bit concerned. Somehow, that look of concern just made him more nervous.
"Hey, kiddo." Tony awkwardly greeted. "I, uh… I know you've been having a rough time, the past couple days. I just wanted to talk."
"Because you've been so good about that in the past…"
"Ouch, but fair. I guess that's part of the problem, isn't it?" Tony remarked. "So, you said you wanted to speak with me."
"Yeah. I've…I've got something I wanna get off my chest." He paused trying to figure out the right way to phrase this.
"I… I feel like I'm letting you down. I feel like I'm letting a lot of people down, because I can't live up to you." He admitted, and that one sentence made Tony's eyes widen, and Nolan rushed on, because he wasn't sure if he would be able to start again if he stopped.
"Just look at all you've done. The legacy you created on your own. I can't hope to touch that, I'm not as smart as you, or as aware as you are. I keep failing over and over lately when you wouldn't have. You would succeed, and I just can't. It's driving me mad, because it feels like I can never be as good as you are. I'll always be in your shadow. You and everyone keeps telling me how you expect great things out of me because I'm your son, but the truth is I feel like I'm not going to be good enough. Like at the end of the day, I'm just a less impressive version of you, and I'm sorry because I know you expect better and I'm letting you down, but I don't know what to do." He admitted hanging his head and sitting down on his bed.
Tony just stared at him for a long while, stroking his own goatee as he tried to think before he came over and sat beside Nolan.
"Nolan, listen. I have never once expected you to be anything like me. In fact, I was hoping you weren't."
"What do you mean by that?"
"I was… not a good person, for a long time. I thought the world was my oyster, for me to do with whatever I wanted. I didn't care what I did, who I did it to, or who got hurt by it. Hell, I didn't learn the simple concept of 'caring about other people' until I took a bomb to the chest. But you were kind, compassionate, and caring from the get go. In that regard, you're already better than I could ever hope to be. I could've cared less if you were a genius or not, I would have been proud of you regardless. And speaking of, you're already way smarter than me."
"You're just saying that…"
"No, I'm serious. You know how much trial and error went into making Iron Man? It took me years to get my armor to where yours started."
"I just did what you did…"
"You took what I did, and you expanded on it. The first time I saw your suit, I was insanely jealous. Some of the things you put into it seemed so good in hindsight, I couldn't figure out how I had missed the idea."
"Really? Because, I felt like I was just sort of copying you."
"Are you kidding? I still haven't figured out how to make a stealth armor that doesn't melt when you activate the noise cancellation."
"I hear what you're saying, but… but I don't believe it." Nolan admitted. "I still feel this… voice in the back of my head, telling me I'll never be good enough. No matter what I accomplish, no matter what I'll do, I'll never be good enough."
"That voice will always be there, but you can't listen to it." Tony explained, swallowing the lump in his throat. "I know because… because I have that voice in my head, too." Nolan's eyes widened at this.
"Seriously?"
"Yeah, yeah I do. Not so much anymore. After the explosion, I heard that voice a lot. Telling me that I didn't deserve to live, that I should've died in that desert, that I should just lock myself in that armor and fall into the ocean. I… I tried to drown it out, for a while. Woke up at the bottom of a bottle, about to hurt everyone I cared about." The Iron Man recounted, letting out a sigh. "And then, one day, I decided I'd had enough. That I needed to strive to be more, to be better than who I was, become the person you thought I was. And I stopped listening to that voice, no matter how much it tells me I'm going to screw up or how much I deserve to die."
"So, how did you manage that? I mean… what changed?"
"You happened, that's what changed. I realized the first time I held you in my arms that I couldn't keep listening to that voice, keep driving myself further down, if I wanted to be around for you. I don't want you to compare yourself to me, I want you to be you and drive yourself forward and upward into whatever you want to be, I will always be proud of you. You know, people like to assume that Iron Man is the best thing, the thing I am most proud of. It's not. By a wide margin, my greatest creation… is you."
Nolan stared at him for a moment and then to Tony's surprise he hugged him tightly and Tony could feel his son crying into his chest and just patted his back with a soft smile, letting him let it all out.
A/N: see end of next chapter for more notes!
