Chapter 19- Happy New Years
It's been a long day, Artemis,Aqualad, Superboy and Superboy were able to locate and recruit Red Arrow. Meanwhile Red Tornado explained, how the entire Justice League is under the mental control of Vandal Savage and Klarion the Witch boy. He was able to escape because it took longer for the starro-tech to sync, with his cybernetic brain. Which allowed him to create a subprogram to shut down if he tried to infect another. The two groups met up, Robin analysed the Starro-tech while Miss Martian telepathically erased the trigger phrase Broken Arrow, like she did with Superboy and Red Sun.
"What do we do now?, no way we can take on the entire Justice League" Red Arrow glared at the screen. Robin placed a green chip on Black Canary's neck, she gasped and struggled against her restraints. She quickly fell out unconscious once again.
"We need experts, Queen Mera, Dr Roquette anyone" Kaldur stated, Robin turned to the leader and nodded in agreement.
"Miss Martian, Superboy,Artemis you're with me we are returning to the cave, I'll try establish communications with Queen Mera Robin, Zatanna, Kid Flash and Rocket take the super cycle to Dr Roquette hopefully she can reverse engineer this" Kaldur directed his teammates.
[Timeskip]
Robin sat atop the lab staring off into the night, today was a bad day. The entire Justice League is now puppets to the light, more than likely this will end with a battle and honestly the league would win. More members, stronger powers, more experience the team is outnumbered and outmatched against them. Kid Flash plopped down next to his boyfriend, he placed a hand over his hand and let out a small smile.
"Hey?, what are we thinking about" Robin placed his head on KF's shoulder. This was the only form of comfort needed at the moment.
"Rob, we'll get them back, Batman, my Uncle all of them" Kid kissed his forehead, Robin hugged him tightly. Wally wrapped his arms around Robin, this was what they both needed right now. Just the warmth of each other, they gave each other hope that it'd all be okay.
[Timeskip]
"RECOGNIZE BLACK CANARY 13, RED TORNADO 16, RED ARROW 21" the computer announced the arrival of the three leaguers as they entered the watchtower. Savage smirked at the group, Klarion rubbed his hands together a sadistic grin across his features.
"Any problems?" Vandal asked, Canary glanced at Tornado and Arrow.
"Despite an initial setback I was able to reinfect Red Tornado and Red Arrow" Black Canary lied to the villain.
"As well as the rest of the team, they awaite reprogramming back on earth" Red Tornado added on to the lie.
"I think not, starro-tech does not reprogram, it gives us remote control" Vandal glanced at Klarion who had several red holographic screens in front of him.
"We know exactly who's infected and none of you are" Klarion laughed manically, Red Arrow quickly grabbed his bow, Canary got in a fighting position and took a deep breath. Suddenly green energy wrapped around her mouth, instantly cancelling her scream,another beam wrapped around her mid section. A energy beam covered Tornado from chest to knees, disabling his aerokinetic abilities. An energy beam wrapped around Red Arrow's chest and arms. Canary glared at Hal Jordan, he floated there with a blank expression holding them hostage.
"Never had I thought the league would be the lights agents of change, all it took was genetic engineering, biochemical engineering, robotics, nano robotics even techno sorcery" Vandal listed as he placed the chips back on their necks. The chips slowly sunk into the leaguers necks reinfecting them.
" Now it's time to deal with those brats" Savage informed Klarion. He rubbed his hands, eyes narrowed and a satisfied grin.
"Goody" he said, his tone showing sadism.
Hawkman patrolles the halls, he turned eyes wide, hearing rapid footsteps, Superboy punched him across the face. This sent the Thanagarian flying he used his wings to slow down his fall. As he stopped Superboy leaped into the air, he landed on him. Hawkman struggled but soon fell unconscious as the boy of steel placed a chip on his neck. The device sank into his skin, he gasped but was out cold. In another room the Atom was slicing through the piece of tentacle from the atlantean labs.
"Evtativel, taht ssorg gniht" Zatanna's voice echoed throughout the room. The piece of flesh he cut began to float. He grew from his ant like size, trying to grab the meat but Zatanna placed a chip on his back. He fell over falling unconscious. Captain Atom was shocked as a blue transparent dome made of water formed around him. He shot a blast of nuclear energy from his hand causing a rippling effect. The bubble fell, Aqualad flipped over him, he swung his waterbearer, a wave of water slapped Captain Atom's neck, the chip was now attached causing the energy being to fall out.
"Those brats took away 4 of my toy" Klarion growled, Vangal glared at the screen.
"Call the away team back, time to put these children in their place"
"FINALLY" Klarion giggled, the cat on his shoulder meowed loudly, he glanced at his familiar, a look of realization crossing his face.
"Oh yea, Vandal shouldn't they be back under your control by now?" Klarion asked, Black Canary smirked as the caveman's eyes widen in shock. She let out a sonic shriek that sent him flying, Red Tornado sent a spiraling tornado at Hal sending him crashing to the ground. Red Arrow placed a chip on his neck, knocking the Green lantern out. Black Canary let out another screech, Klarion used his magic to create headphones over his ears.
"NICE TRY BIRDY!" he laughed as intense wind picked up in the room. A yellow glow appeared in the air and formed as a boomtube. Superman, Wonder Woman, John Stewart, Martian Manhunter, Hawkwomen and Batman exited the glowing circle as it closes.
"Crap" Red Arrow backed up, Canary let out a sonic shriek, Hawkwoman flew past her, she landed behind the blonde and pulled out her mace. She smashed it against Canary's face knocking her out cold. Red Arrow leaped back and launched an arrow from his bow, Manhunter became intangible but the arrow burst into flames as it passed him. This caused him to fall to the ground panting, he held his chest in pain. Batman wicked Red Arrow in the chest, he punched him in the face, the archer spun from the impact. He swung his bow, Batman blocked it with his arm and headbutted the archer. Red Arrow fell his head slamming on the ground, this knocked him out.
John held out his fist, the ring formed a crane made of green energy. It grabbed Red Tornado, Wonder Woman and Superman ripped the red android's limbs off. John let him fall to the ground hard.
Klarion began laughing, he pointed to the unconscious heros.
"It seems the cure makes them immune to starro-tech meaning we no longer need them alive" Vandal glared at the fallen heros.
"RECOGNIZE CAPTAIN MARVEL 15 DR FATE 17, ICON 20" the zetatube announced their arrival. A chip landed on Fate's neck knocking him out cold. Icon and Marvel rushed into action, Icon unleashed a blue energy beam from his hand destroying the two remaining chips. Rocket snuck up behind him placing one on his neck. He fell out, Captain Marvel glared at Zatanna he charged at her.
" TRULB TUO MAZAHS" She held out her hands, He gasped his mouth began to move.
"SHAZAM!" He screamed, lightning struck him reverting him to Billy Batson. He crashed into the sorceress.
" To bad Cureotech doesn't work as fast as starrotech we could use these guys" Rocket stated.
"It's a miracle we were able to get a cure at all" Aqualad informed her.
"Um if your not too busy" Wally said through the link, Rocket and Kaldur ran out of the room to join the others. Zatanna stared at her Dr Fate, she slowly walked over to him and attempted to pull off the helmet. It shocked her, she glared and stood up furious by this.
"TEMLEH, ESAELER YM REHTAF" Lightning surged from her hands striking the helmet, the helmet absorbed and redirected the attack sending her flying.
"ZATANNA!" Billy helped her up, tears ran down her face, she wiped them away. A sob escaped her lips as she stood up.
"I can save Fate from Savage but I still can't save my father from Fate"
(Watchtower Hanger Bay)
Artemis shot 3 arrows from her bow, Flash dodges each one at top speed. Green Arrow shot an arrow from his bow, Kid Flash tackled Artemis as the arrow impaled the crate and exploded.
"It's a miracle were even alive" She commented.
"Only because they're limited to their controller if they had their free will we'd all be dead" Wally explained to her. They noticed Kaldur running to the airlock systems. Artemis tied a rope to an arrow and launched an arrow from her bow. It pierced a crate. Wally held onto her as she tied the rope around herself. Kaldur grabbed the handle and pressed the button. The doors opened sucking loose objects into open space. The leaguers went flying, Aqualad quickly closed the doors, the hero's slamming against the door as it shut. Wally quickly placed a chip on Flash's, Green Arrow's and Aquaman's necks.
Meanwhile
Hawkwoman smacked sphere away with her mace, Wolf tackled her from behind, Robin put a chip on her neck, a energy bubble formed around him blocking Wonder Woman's lasso. The barrier lowered and formed around her, she began punching the barrier.
"Can you hold her?" Robin asked Rocket.
"Yea, my bubble absorbs kinetic energy harder she punches the harder it will be to get out. But I'm stuck here anything I do risk freeing her. " Rocket explained to him. Batman glided down, Robin tried to kick him in the chest but the man grabbed his leg and flipped him into the ground. He attempted to punch Rocket, she flew out of the way. Robin threw a handful of pellets, they emitted smoke, Robin jumped into the smoke cloud and tried to kick the dark knight. Batman punches him across the face, Superman smacked Superboy across the face, he crashes into the wall hard. Superman grabbed him by the throat and shot him in the face with heat vision. Sphere rammed into Martian Manhunter, Wolf leaped on Superman, he bit the kryptonian's neck. Superman threw him into Superboy. Sphere rammed into Supeman from above cauding a huge crater. The man of steel threw Sphere across the room. Miss Martian blends into the surrounding environment, she tries to sneak up behind her uncle. Suddenly arms grow from his back and grabs her, his head turns 180 degrees.
"Sorry uncle J'onn" M'gann said, her appearance changed to her white martian form. Her eyes glowed a bright shade of red, Martian Manhunter let out a pain filled scream, he held his head. M'gann telekinetically placed a chip on his neck knocking him out. Superman punched her in the face, Conner jumped on his back, Superman throws him off Batman kicks Robin off the platform.
"Superboy I need a swing" Robin said as he landed next to him. Superboy grabbed his wrist and swung through the air. He rammed into Batman the dark knight crashed into the wall. Robin used this time to place a chip on his neck and flip off. Superboy held the man of steel against the wall.
" ARE YOU SURE ABOUT THIS?" Robin called out he reached into his pocket pulling out a box.
"JUST DO IT" Superboy screamed, he was slowly losing his grip. Robin opened the box, the green kryptonite weakened the two. Superman fell out unconscious giving Robin the opportunity to place a chip on his neck. He quickly closed the box, Superboy let out an agitated groan, he forced himself up.
"Geez Kryptonite hurts" He rubbed his arm stilling feeling the pain.
"Hey you're only half kryptonian so it doesn't hurt as much as it hurts him, just be happy Batman keeps it in a overwhelmingly, impenetrable vault in the batcave, well more like a whelmingly penetrable vault" Robin smirked. Conner smiled fondly at his young friend, The team ran towards the main room in the watchtower, Robin pulled out his birdarangs, M'gann morphed back to her usual form and flew above the others followed by Rocket who was encased in a pink aura. Aqualad, Artemis, Zatanna and Kid Flash ran towards the doors, Kid speeding ahead of the whole team.
He got there first and looked around noticing the room was empty. Only people that were there was a recovering Black Canary and Red Arrow, as well as a broken Red Tornado.
"Dammit they're gone!" He screamed stomping on the ground. He instantly calmed down once Robin placed a hand on his shoulder.
"Sorry team they escaped right before you arrived" Canary apologized.
"HAPPY NEW YEARS JUSTICE LEAGUE" the computer announced the event. A holographic projection of a screen appeared. On it it read 12:00 am January 1st 2011. Wally smirked, Robin raised an eyebrow at the look of mischief. He gasped as he was swept off his feet, Wally held him bridal style.
"You, rock my world babe" He gave Robin a goofy smile, the boy wonder chuckled to himself. He leaned in kissing his boyfriend passionately on the lips. M'gann and Conner embraced each other, they slowly leaned in letting each other's lips meet gently. Zatanna grabbed Artemis's wrist and pulled her into a deep kiss. Artemis gasp as her lips met the younger girl's, she melted into the warm kiss.
"Liking this team more everyday" Rocket grabbed Kaldur's chin and pecked his lips, a nervous smile covered his features.
"Human emotions still elude me" Red Tornado stated from the ground.
(Celestial view)
Conner had his arms wrapped around M'gann's waist. They were watching the earth from the satellite base. Superman landed his blue eyes locked on Conner.
"I think, I'll say happy new years to my Uncle J'onn" she flew out of the room. Conner turned to his "father".
"The team did good work here, you did good work" Superman complimented his clone. Conner was shocked by the acknowledgement, for the last 7 months all Superman has done is ignore him.
"Thanks…." he awkwardly accepted the compliment. Superman scratched the back of his head, obviously confused on what to say next.
"I hear you've chosen a name for yourself" Superman tried to start a conversation.
"Um….yea Conner Kent" he informed the man, his blue eyes widen at the information.
"My superhero identity is Clark Kent" Superman said. Suddenly Conner was panicking he didn't want the man to think he was trying to be like a son.
"I didn't know I wasn't trying to" Superman raised his hand to silence the boy.
"I like it, Conner Kent….it fits" The two kryptonians smiled at each other.
(Meanwhile in briefing room)
"So you and Wally seem to be getting closer" Batman said in his usual monotone voice. Robin looked up from the computer a blush on his face.
"Um we need to talk, Vandal Savage had the league under control for a little over a day. We can account for almost all of the time, but these 6 leaguers were missing for a 16 hours we can't account for" Robin typed something into the computer, an image of Hawkwoman, Superman, Green Lantern (John Stewart), Wonder Woman, Martian Manhunter and Batman.
"What did we do?" Batman stared at the screen.