The Edge of the Night

Markovia

January 4, 2035

5:17:23 ETD

In an underground lab of Markovia, A brown-haired, and lab-coated woman is testing the vitals of teens who were sedated. Next to her is a dark-skinned woman, also in a lab coat. Checking the heart rates.

"The vitals in the tissue are at 98% through the repairment of those cells. Looks like the process is going well, Dr. Jace." Said the young woman.

"This should be good. If we keep this up, Dr. Steward, it should surpass the metagenes with metagene-Z. With the use of the Green Light." The Green Light is a mysterious drug meant to create Metahumans out of the non-metas with the injection.

They were operating on a young girl. Who was heavily sedated to be kept from running away, when also strapped to a bed. Then her blood pressure begins to rise as her heart rate started racing. Dr. Steward then proceeded to inject the young girl to get her to relax, or risk failing the experiment.

"I have to ask. You work with the guy who was called the "Man with many names." I must say, the guy must be a mystery nobody, not even the whole world knows." Stated Dr. Steward.

Dr. Jace records the systems in her clipboard. Wiring got down with her black pen. And putting it down on the counter. "Yes, the Man with many names. Must I say, he lived a very long life. They say he was the ancestor of all metahumans. They even think he was a demigod. But truth to be told, he was a being from outside of Earth." Dr. Jace explains.

"And is this why you're working with the host who won't show his face?" Asked Dr. Steward.

"His bloodline and appearances is what intrigues me very much. Think of how many descendants he bore for centuries." Said Dr. Jace.

"I guess it's no wonder you're interested in the Markovs. It's ashamed that his highness no longer trusts you. Not after you...shall I say...manipulated him and his sister?" Asked Dr. Steward.

"Call it manipulation, if you like. But I call it mediation. Former King Gregor wasn't the best candidate as he was tested negative for the metagene, as they were recessive, however, there might be a time to come to find second-gen metas."

"This isn't about doing whatever you pleased, it's physiology." Replied Dr. Steward. Dr. Jace looked at Dr. Steward as something about her looked too familiar. Sometimes the eyes looked very much memorable. But she cannot put it out for why.

"You know, you reminded me of someone I met before." Dr. Steward clenched her fist while holding a pencil as she writes down the rest of the reports. But cooled down and turned back to Dr. Jace.

"Like who? A former lab partner? Or do you have a sibling of some kind?" Asked Dr. Steward.

Jace narrowed her eyes. Something about her new lab partner just rings a bell. Not the person she sees, but a previous encounter of another person with similar eyes. But brushed it off. As nothing else came to mind.

"It's nothing. Let's call it a night." Dr. Jace holds onto the reports and puts them in a safe. Dr. Steward peered at the safe with Jace's fingers tapping on the buttons on a sealing code. And memorized them.

"I'll remain here to keep the place cleaned up. Have a good night." Waved Dr. Steward. Jace replied, "Same to you." Then left the lab. Dr. Steward then focused on the safe where the reports are kept. Using the code Jace had admitted, Steward was able to retrieve the reports.

Dr. Steward, or that's what she calls herself, then turns on her communicator. "Thunder to Nightwing, I am in position. Thanks for covering the CCTV footages."

As Thunder, under the alias, Dr. Alisha Steward, hears from Nightwing for what to do next. She takes out her camera to take the pictures. "Yes, I have the reports. I am uploading them now." Said Thunder.

Her thoughts about Dr. Jace is nothing but hatred. But kept her cool because Thunder will one day make Jace pay for manipulating her father.

You had my dad played. Now it's your turn, Jace.

Thunder, whose real name is Anissa Pierce, then looks through the files of names of kids being taken in secrecy, even after Lex's involvement in the metahuman trafficking was exposed. There were still shadows continuing the work. Her grandfather, Alvin Pierce, was a reporter to have uncovered the existence of metahumans.

As she looked through every window of the files, one with the name Jefferson Pierce, she noticed one that was picture of her father, when he was a teenager, sometime after Alvin's death.

Jace knew Grandpa was about to expose Tobias from the start. This lady, what a crazy old hag. All those photos, and those letters left to Mr. Gambi.

Then a picture of the first Black Canary of the JSA (Justice Society of America).

Whoa, the first Black Canary?

Then a woman who resembles Wonder Woman, bit older wearing the same armory the Amazon Princess wears today.

Then she sees the file called Project Tidal Wave. As she opens it, there was a that requires a password. "A password. Okay. Wanna bet?" Anissa chuckled. She loved a challenge to figure out a password

The first thing she typed is "Light."

"Access denied."

"What else could Jace have in mind?"

Then Anissa typed "Markovia."

"Access denied."

"Argh! There's gotta be something too personal. Oh, wait." Anissa thought about what was anything personal Jace could've kept thought of. But it disgusted her to think of it. She didn't want to do this. But what choice does she have to figure this out?

"Ugh, I can't believe I'm doing this. Sorry, Dad." Anissa said. Regretfully, she typed out her father's name, Jefferson. And to her shock, and dismay, it was the correct password.

"Access granted."

"Can't believe that woman is still obsessed with him, even after what she did. Not in a million years for that succubus." Anissa chuckled. Feeling that victory will be at hand to bring Jace down.

Moving on, Anissa found a secret window that leads to Project Tidal Wave. It was still in progress. Then finds something interesting. It was a picture and profile of a pre-teen with similar facial features as the former King of Markovia, Gregor Markov. The boy's name is Gregory Markov II. Who would've been the heir apparent to the throne of Markovia if King Brion had not usurped it in the first place.

"No way." Anissa gasped. "Nightwings' got to see this."


Star City

Janurary 2, 2035

11:34:17 UTD

Red Rider, as Lian would call herself to keep her identity a secret, continues to pursue the robbers while Green Arrow did not see who's behind him. She cannot help but feel excited that Green Arrow is right in front of her.

I can't believe it! He's right in front of me! Green Arrow will thank me after this. Oh, wait. Focus, Lian. Stop the robbers, then get to the conversation.

Red Rider soeeds up her bike, and moved next to him. Shocking Green Arrow to see a girl with a bow and arrows. "What the - !" Green Arrow gasped.

"Hey there! Here to help, and you're welcome!" Red Rider waved at him, astonishing the Green Archer. She pulled on the gas pedal on the bar handle and speeds up more to catch up on the robbers' car.

Just as they went ahead to catch the robbers. The Tornado Twins and Superboy stopped by to see the two archers. "Whoa! Green Arrow? He's back!" Superboy couldn't believe his eyes, as he thought the ghost of the Green Archer had returned. "Wait, something isn't right here." Said Tornado Girl. "If he's dead? How was he back?"

Red Rider sped by them. But As Superboy saw that a girl in the mask, Red Rider' ginger hair flowing through the speed of the wind, her smirk being very admirable. Superboy blinked and feels flustered.

"Um, Dude. Hello?" Tornado Boy waved in front of him. Superboy cannot help but think about the Red Rider. Then shook his head. "You okay, SB?" Asked Tornado Boy.

"Dude...That girl who just passed us..." Superboy began. While staring at the spunky girl in the mask. "I think I have a crush."

"Dude, you're a 13-year-old kid. And that girl is probably a bit older than you." Tornado Girl sighed. Then Superboy heard cries for help, and blazing flames.

"SB, what's up?" Tornado Boy questioned.

"You guys follow them, I'm going to catch up later!" Superboy instructed. The twins nodded as they ran with superspeed to catch up with Green Arrow as Superboy leaps higher than the tall buildings to follow the sound.

As he landed somewhere around downtown, Superboy sees an apartment building on fire. Firefighters were using the hydrants to spray the hose to ease the flames. But there is still one problem.

"Mommy! Mommy!" A little boy crying for his mother as she stared up from the ground helplessly. "Somebody help! My son is up here!" The woman attempted to save her son from the burning building, but was stopped by the fireman. "Ma'am, you can't go up here! It's dangerous!" He warned.

"But my baby!" Before the mother can even protest, Superboy ran passed the fireman and the woman. The fireman stood in shock and at awe to see the teenage boy risking his life to bring the child to safety. "Kid, you can't go in there!" The fireman shouted, thinking he was just a reckless kid.

"I got this!" Superboy replied back.

He then proceeds to entered the building as he shields his forehead to look around. He knew the kid was in the 5 floor, the elevator was destroyed, so he can't enter the

So he rushed upstairs to reach the fifth floor before the building gets crushed. The Boy of Steel knew he did not have much time before it collapses. Superboy uses his enhanced hearing to find the boy.

As he was sure which room he was at, Superboy bursts through the door to find the kid. He found the boy still in his bedroom, cowering in the closet. The first thing he did first was to calm the little kid down. "Hey, kid. Don't worry, I'll get you to your mom. Just hang on."

As soon as the boy calms down, he was held onto Superboy's arms. Making sure he isn't letting go until they are out of the building. Superboy's dashes back out, only to find that the stairs were already disintegrated by the flames. "Yikes." The floors were cracking.

But Superboy kept going. And wished he can fly to find a way out. But he cannot think of it as of now. The boy held onto Superboy's shoulders as tight as he could.

But before he can keep moving, he kept shielding the boy from falling objects, cracking from the ceiling. Shielding the boy. Thankfully his body was strong enough to withstand, but not against cuts judging by the wood used to support the walls.

Superboy heard ticking. And it wasn't good. "What, a bomb?!" He realized too late that there was a bomb underneath. Causing the floor to blow up as Superboy and the child began to fall as the floor is no longer safe to land as it was covered in derby. They might plunge to death.

Superboy hung onto a bar. Lamenting about sneaking out of school, then having to go through a building in flames, being reckless. But his only though was to fall, while also shielding the kid so that he wouldn't get hurt. "I wish I could've known sooner that there was a bomb there. Gotta call for backup." Said Superboy.

But to his luck, a stream of water was flying in the air, distinguishing the flames as if they were under command. Superboy looked down to see a young Atlantean boy with blonde hair and blue eyes, wearing the simar garb as the original Aqualad. "Hop on!" He told the Boy of Steel.

Superboy does not hesitate and jumps onto the water pillar as they landed safely. Thankfully, no one was hurt. And the firemen did not have to worry about the fire any longer as the young man took care of it with his hydrokinetic abilities.

Superboy puts the child down and watches as he reunites with his mother. "My baby!" The mother cried as she hugs her son. "Mommy!" The child said as he hugs his mother back.

Superboy then turned to the Atlantean warrior who began to speak firmly about the dangers of being reckless. "For future reference, you should've been well-equiped before even thinking about entering burning buildings."

Superboy maintained his smile, while also a little embarrassed for his recklessness. But in the end, it did help save a little boy from the collapsing building. But shows gratitude to the Atlantean young man. "Uh, yeah. I'll admit, I was a little dumb about it. Heheh!" He chuckled. "But thanks for the save."

The mother and her son came up to Superboy and the young man. "Thank you, both! You saved my baby."

"Please, no need to thank us, ma'am." Superboy waved.

"We only help when it is needed. I'm pleased to see your child out of harm's way." The child walked up to the Atlantean boy and held out his hand, thinking he was Aquaman due to the resemblance, only he's a bit younger.

"Aquaman..." The child began. But the young Atlantean chuckled softly. And gently pats the child's head. "Actually, I'm Aqualad." The mother then slowly took her son in his arms. "Come on, James, let's get you to a hospital to check you up. Thank you very much to you two!" Waved the woman as she carried her son to an ambulance to check for injuries.

"Dude, that was seriously cool. But who are you exactly, Aqualad?" Asked Superboy.

"That is a story for another time. Boy of Steel, I have come to ask you for your aid on a mission I cannot complete alone. And I require to form a team of young defenders. Will you accept the invitation?"

A smile elicited on the young hybrid's face. As he abruptly takes his hand for a handshake. Excited to be included to be in a team of young heroes. "Accept it?! Forget it, I'm in!" Exclaimed Superboy.

Then a policeman came by to talk to them. Out of concern that there were two young men in the streets at night. But since Aqualad is the oldest, the officer focused on him. "We already found the cause of the flames sparking in the apartment building. There was a bomb underneath the floors."

The officer showed Aqualad the now busted bomb since the fire started. "No bodies were found. But sources say it was a cover up to kidnap more kids. According to the parents that lived in this building, their teenaged children were asleep while away for their meetings late at night. We searched the building, but nobody was there. Could be another metahuman trafficking scheme. We are now investigating LexCorp's faction in Star City, since Lex Luthor hadn't been completely arrested yet."

"Oh, sure. Bet that's the bad guys' thing for: "Let's kidnap more kids in the middle of the night to go crazy." Groaned Superboy. Annoyed for the fact that Lex (his father's arch-nemesis) is still not in prison. "I think Lex had cost us enough trouble. But since he's rich, it would be impossible for him to stay in jail."

"Well, I hate to say this, Kid. But that's political power for ya. Even the most evil ones. Can't say I disagree." Admitted the officer.

"We will take it from here, Officer." Aqualad finished. Then the officer wrote down his number and gives it to Aqualad.

"Here. I'm detective Quentin Lance for the SCPD. Call me if there's anything. Just be careful out there when helping fignting crime in tbe streets, kids." Quentin advised them.

"I appreciate it, kind sir." Aqualad saluted, and Quentin does the same. For some reason, the young Atlantean may be muscular and an incredible strong warrior, but inside is a polite and kind soul.


Back in the chase, Red Rider and Green Arrow continued their pursuit on the robbers. Only for Green Arrow to try to talk the teenage girl into walking away from a dangerous scene. "Hey, kid! You can't be here! It's dangerous!" Green Arrow shouted as he sped next to her.

"Too bad! Cause I'm all about danger!" Red Rider shouted back. It became too exciting for her to back down. Since she is no coward to fight crime. As she was no stranger to violence. Then one of the robbers moved their upper body out of the vehicle from the window and shot gunfire at the archers.

But then Green Arrow aims his arrow at the gun, while Red Rider distracts him by swirving her motorcycle left and right. The distraction worked as Green Arrow shot his arrow and it hits ths gun. Causing the robber to drop robber to drop the gun. The gun tumbles on the road.

Then a truck appeared in front of the car. Turns out to be a trap for both archers. "What the, enemy reinforcement?!" Green Arrow gasped. The cargo opens to see a mysterious archer in a tagged mask inside, and to their shock, Cyclotronic Man.

"Cyclotronic Man?! Here in Star City?!" Gasped Red Rider.

"The 100, of course!" Added Green Arrow. Cyclotronic Man then proceed to blast the duo chasing them as the car moves inside the cargo. Green Arrow moved out of the blast moving the handle of his bike.

The chase goes on, as neither relaxed they had ended up in the highway outside of State City. It was now a road around the cliff. The ragged archer then proceeds to fire his arrows at Red Rider. She dodged them. But as the Archer aimed at Green Arrow next. "Look out!" She shouted to the Green Archer. Red Rider then uses her arrows to deflect the enemy's fire, saving Green Arrow from certain death.

As both then sped on the right side of the cargo, there was a school is in front of them. Causing the two archers to be startled. "Ahh!" They screamed.

"Aaaaahhhh!" The bus driver, including the children inside the bus screamed as the duo turned away from the pathway to let the bus through and were once again behind the cargo.

"Whoa. That was close." Red Rider sighs before focusing on the chase. The villainous archer is again using three arrows to hit the duo on front of them. But Red Rider decides to take measures into her hands to defend herself and Green Arrow.

Like Grandma said, no matter how much good you did, the world remains the way it is. A place where no men, women and children are safe. I can see why Dad never mentions what he does outside of his job. Maybe there was more than what he told me. Maybe Mom knows it too. She had to be somewhere. Sometimes I get the feeling she might be watching. Maybe from the shadows.

Then from the Driver's seat. Someone uses ice powers to crystalized the road with clear blue ice. Causing Red Rider to swirl with her bike. Spiraling uncontrollably as she struggles to keep her motor in balance.

Green Arrow notices this and wasn't sure on whether or not he should continue the chase on the villains, or save the individual trying to help him. But only when Red Rider was slipping on the edge of the road and fell from it was then Green Arrow stopped to catch her. "Ahh!" She screamed.

Green Arrow speeds off the cliff and catches her by reaching her hand. Using an arrow to break their fall. Piercing it onto the cliff. Beneath them was the ocean. Very harsh, and very at high length of wind. The two archers watched as the waves danced underneath.

It was a close call. As they climbed, they both panted as they reached back to the top. Red Rider, rather Lian looked up at Green Arrow. Unhappy that the bad guys got away.

"Uh.. hi?" She said. Not sure what to say to the hooded archer.

"You okay?" Green Arrow asked. Sincerely but also firm.

"Yeah. I'm sorry. They got away. Just couldn't help myself. Never thought I'd be fighting super-powered jerks. Not the best shot."

The way she says "jerks." Green Arrow seemingly recognized her from somewhere. Then police sirens are heard. Green Arrow had some explaining to do, since he failed to catch the rogues. To his shock, Red Rider disappeared.

Then Superboy and Aqualad showed up unexpectedly. Superboy is mostly surprised to see the new Green Arrow in town. "No way, Green Arrow?! I'm a huge fan!" Superboy shouted.

"Um, Jonathan, he's not the Green Arrow we knew." Aqualad corrected the Boy of Steel.

"I knew that!" The Tornado Twins returned to the group. "What happened?" Asked Superboy.

"We lost sight of Vengeance. But we managed to put a tracking device on the ship. Looks like they're heading for the east."

"Where's she?" Asked Superboy.

"Where's the chick that was following you?" Asked Tornado Boy.

"Sorry, don't know." Green Arrow replied while secretly tracking her to find out who she is. "But she calls herself the Red Rider."


The Ragged Archer is at the old mansion of Queen Manor meeting with Talia Al Ghul, the current leader of the League of Shadows. "Did we have the children, Prometheus?" Asked Talia.

"The cargo was already on the way to Markovia. Tobias already had his men distract Green Arrow."

"Good." The Ragged Archer, now known as Prometheus. Gives Talia more info that there was an unexpected adversary appearing out of nowhere.

"There's also something else."

"What is it?" Talia asked. Curious to find out more of the events. She sensed that there is a new enemy from the shadows.

"A girl in red. She is also capable of archery and swordsmanship, but surpasses that of Green Arrow." Prometheus replied.

This got Talia curious. Star City now has two protectors. The original Green Arrow wasn't the only one to have a successor to take his place. But a new partner for him would be a threat to her beliefs.

"A new shadow coming to play some games, until blood spills." Prometheus somehow managed to take a picture of the girl and Green Arrow. Talia zooms in the picture. Seeing the facial features despite her wearing a mask.

The girl had interested Talia for her skills. As she watched the video footage from Prometheus' mask. "Interesting. Like the wolf itself, their pups leave their dens to start their hunt. But mine will find their preys faster."

"I'll take care of the girl." Prometheus suggested.

"Actually. My son will take care of her, permanently. Jade will now see that a shadow never gets wiped out with blood." She then then turned to her son in a hood, beneath the hood are Raven hair and green eyes. "Isn't that right, Damian?" Asked Talia.

Prometheus, however, had other plans. Instead of letting Talia's son get the glory of the mission, he decided to take matters into his own hands.

Damian? Huh? Hate to burst his bubble. But I am getting the girl first.


Meanwhile, Lian went back home. Exhausted after a night of her first time crime-fighting, only for this to go wrong. "Can't believe I blew it." She opened the front door.

"Dad! I'm home!" Lian called, no response. It was quiet. "I guess he had some extra work to do. As she went her way to her bedroom, she stopped to see a photograph of her mother, father and her 2-year-old self.

I wanted to know why Mom had wanted to keep away from me, and Dad. Sensei Nyssa told me that she has done some things she wasn't even proud of during her time with the Shadows. To me, Mom is a ghost. Those close to my dad, they were also hiding something from me.

After putting her stuff away, she then turned around from the closet where she hid her weapons in a secret compartment. Then holds her mask, that acts as a camera to find the identity of the mysterious enemy archer. In her computer she uploaded the picture she took, zooming in on the face of the ragged archer.

"Who are you?" She asked herself. As she keeps thinking about what to do next, she then prints the picture and placed it in the board of evidence filled with articles, photographs of criminals she was secretly investigating. And then she takes out an arrow that was shot by the Ragged Archer.

She then searched through her computer for the news footage of the Ragged Archer. After typing through the browser, there were footages that are mostly blurry.

Metropolis, Central City, Los Angeles, Dominican Republic, this guy's was said to be more like the shadow who can't be caught. Reports of the dead vigilantes and bounty hunters. They called him the Ragged Archer, cause of his ragged mask. Even the deaths of Metahumans. This guy must be insane after reading the reports. If the old Green Arrow were alive, would he have stopped him? Does the world still need heroes? Guess time will tell.

Lian then turns off her computer. Walking to her bed, still in her outgoing clothes, plopped her head to her pillow as she turns and closed her eyes.

"Guess I have some exciting to do in the morning." Lian yawned as she laid back and closed her eyes and fell asleep. She cannot help but think of the mysteries that keep surrounding her for years. One after the other. Her grandmother would tell her stories about the Phoenix, legendary defender of Earth.

Suddenly, a window was cut opened into a circle as the intruder. Lian was too tired to hear what was going on. But then the creaking noises became obvious. Thinking she was fully asleep. The intruder thought he would have the advantage of taking her against her will.

Just as he was about to use a cloth filled with chloroform. Lian opened her eyes, and with a sword underneath her bedsheet gives her the advantage to give the intruder a surprise attack. She holds it in front of her, causing the intruder to be taken aback as he stumbled backwards after Lian kicked him by the abdomen.

""Don't move!" Lian demanded while aiming her katana at her. It was the Ragged Archer.

"Well, well, pretty lotus. Long time no see. I see you still have it." The Ragged Archer chuckled. Lian grew suspicious as of he recognized her from somewhere. "What are you talking about? Who are you?"

"Let me remind you that you broke my heart after the mission was a disaster." He demonstrates by taking off his mask. Lian was shocked to see who that was. "No...Can't be...Tommy?"

"How I missed you, doll. But now, I am Prometheus. Don't forget that for this is our last night together."

Lian wasn't going to stand by and let her ex and now arch-enemy win this fight. "Like hell I would!" Lian retorted.


Author's note: Tommy Merlyn, the son of Dark Arrow takes a mantle of Prometheus, similar to his Earth-X version in Arrowverse franchise. This version of Tommy is a member of the H.I.V.E and Lian's ex-boyfriend. They have dated during their time together in the Order of the Phoenix.

He got expelled from the Order for unknown reasons. And his actions caused Lian to break up with him as a result of their differences.

Wanna know what's going on in this ambush, wait till the next chapter. Have a good night.