Watchtower, Around 11 pm.

The league was in full panic mode. The watchtower sensors had detected that Yellowstone's volcanic activity had suddenly escalated from clear to massive catastrophe on the imminent eruption levels. The situation was salvageable but it required finesse and no obstacles. But their biggest issue was their trainees and Tornado at that very location. The turncoat Tornado had already hurt their younger partners a few weeks back. If they were hurt once again by the android, not only would the Leaguers have failed themselves as heroes, but they would lose a part of themselves and might indulge in the dark side. It was necessarily in all their interests to remedy the calamity that was on the brink of barrelling out.

Yellowstone.

Kaldur was playing along his role. It might have been foolish and perhaps reckless to be willing to trust Red Tornado. But he didn't truly believe that Red was the mole. And while he hadn't put it all together, it made a little sense that Red was actually undercover and trying to figure out why his brethren had attacked them. So they pretended to fail, act bruised and unconscious on the ground. The rest of the team were initially opposed to this, but trusted him enough to follow through with his orders.

What he didn't anticipate coming into the mission was a new Android, Red Volcano. Not knowing an opponent's capabilities often lead to disaster. Quite like when Volcano revealed that he was implanted with all of Tornado's, Inferno's and Torpedo's memories and with a newer system had figured out what Tornado would do before he even did it. Or how the team sprawled before him was as close to kinship as the android had ever truly felt.

With their covers blown, he immediately took control directing each member of the team with precise tasks, maximising advantages and strengths while ensuring each member's task was aligned with their end goal - to contain the maniacal android. The team functioned as efficiently as a well-oiled automotive, with each member knowing their purpose and functions while executing their assigned roles and jobs like a laser in an ophthalmological procedure. He yelled attack into the mind link and within a second, his team attacked as one. Their guest for the day, Zatanna, an insanely potent young witch, got in some spells to counteract the menace enough to become a hindrance for Volcano. Tornado had no knowledge about her, and consequently Volcano didn't have any prepared countermeasures. But, he had counters for Zatara and he employed them.

Unfortuantely for them, aVolcano successfully repelled their attempts at sabotage as one would smash a gnat. He was aware of their strengths and weaknesses, had all measures and countermeasures ready and used them with ruthless precision to take them out. Not even Zatanna's added wildcard was able to tip an odd or two their way.

Kaldur knew he was out of his depth. Literally and figuratively. He was standing right atop a dormant, about to be highly active, supervolcano and directing teens in a battle against an Android that could take on the entire league at the same time. Terrifying would be sorely inadequate to describe his inner being. But he had to be strong for his team and for stopping this idiot.

Volcano's wanted to destroy the human race and repopulate the planet with Androids. Not very original. But his persistence to do it irrespective of its well-being was a new quality among the selfish supervillains they had faced in the past. And true to his stated goal, he started the dormant super-volcano and plunged it into its stage two directly.

Lava started to spew from the fissures that grew on the ground. The super-volcano became active in the blink of an eye and Volcano burst into raving fits of villainous laughter, a staple for no-matter-the-cost supervillains. The ground began to shake vigorously, throwing most of the heroes off-balance. Knowing that he would receive the worst dressing down later on, Aqualad called in the Justice league for help. Zatanna pulled them all into a protective purple shield, but the strain of maintaining it was clearly visible.

With chaos reigning all over and an inevitable explosion soon to occur, no hope was left in the team. Until they heard a deafening boom. Fearing it to be an eruption, they were surprised to see a tall, broad-shouldered guy clad in a heavy golden-bronze, antiquated greek-themed armour, with a three-foot-long leaf-shaped bronze sword, descending onto Volcano. A single swipe with that sword and he made a deep incision on one of the limbs of Red Volcano.

Volcano screeched making a sound akin to that of a high-frequency step-up transformer. It grumbled in the background of heavy electric crackling and spoke the thoughts on all minds present there. "Now, who in the hell are you?".

"Wouldn't you like to know?", the male snarked. "Let's go with a concerned human."

"I doubt that. I know what a human looks like. Your signature is different. For a lack of a better term, incomplete. Almost like a hybrid. Are you hybrid?"

"Is this really what you want, you dumb toaster? I mean, we are standing at the edge of a supervolcanic explosion you started. And you want to exchange anatomy details now? Here I thought you were actually more intelligent than the usual villainous dolt."

"Bah... Insolent heroes. You insects keep increasing in numbers like you came from a breeding machine. No matter. Father was right. Earth's problems all stem from humans and their eradication is the only way for true peace. Truly save the planet. No smartass unintelligent lifeforms that cause chaos. It is time for order from the Red repopulated planet and you won't deny my goal."

"Even machine villains are as cliché as they can get. Monologuing. Over-confident. Over-ambitious. Don't know their ass from their head. And certainly, forget to account for unknown variables. But who cares? An arrogant, useless android like you doesn't matter in the large scheme of things. in a few years, you like all of the rest, would be forgotten with as an unimportant menace and not worthy remembering."

Voclcano growled and started shooting lava streams at him which he dodges. He then launched himself at the red monstrosity but was promptly flushed into the air with another burst of lava from the ground. In the gravelly mechanical voice associated with every AI movie of dominance and take-over ever made, Volcano maniacally laughed.

However the laughter was cut short. The guy fell back in front of him with a stance remarkably similar to those of Ancient Greek heroes, sword plunged into the scorching ground and knelt on one knee.

Kaldur then witnessed the unidentified male move with speeds and grace only a seasoned warrior could have possessed. It was leagues above an Atlantean or even an Amazon. The closest he could compare it to was that of Wonder Woman when she wasn't using her godly bestowed speed. His movements were imperceptible and with great skill he cut through the armour on Volcano straight into his processing centre.

Heavily damaged, Volcano began to move haphazardly, like a human clubbed on the head. He malfunctioned and toppled backwards into a lava stream that had opened up behind it, and began dissolving.

in his last act of defiance, seeking to cause as much damage before leaving, he waved his hand and the entire ground rumbled with a ferocity unseen before. The tremors and the pressure waves that originated were felt as far away as Tokyo across the Pacific and Istanbul across the Atlantic. Yellow Stone Super Volcano had gone into stage three.

The red family arrived just then and were stunned to find their youngest brother a steaming hunk of metal and the active supervolcano in the beginnings of stage 3. Their attention was diverted, however, when they heard a guttural roar from the new hero among them. They saw him drive his sword into the ground and his entire figure began glowing. It started out a pale red. Then turned bright red and continued to a stinging bright white.

Captivated by the sheer spectacle they were witnessing, they almost failed to dodge the massive amounts of water that had been unceremoniously drained from underground reservoirs. Debris was being flung their way by an unprecedented class-5 tornado raging havoc on the volcano, redirecting the ash and gases into the exosphere. The red family felt powerless over the elements they were supposed to have control of.

The sheer power rolling of the figure was intense and overpowering. The team lay incapacitated from the pressure and heat waves that was scorching the barren grounds. Yet, the explosion was contained. The unknown armour clad saviour was working his magic and after about a minute of complete bedazzlement and utter spectacle, the volcano was brought under control. The earth filled up the fissures and cracks. The lava cooled down and the new rock was firm. Earth was saved by an extraordinarily powerful stranger, who maintained control over three elements at the same time and prevented a stage-3 supervolcano from bringing on the ice age once again.

A loud sonic boom and the Flash was the first to arrive. Moments later, Superman was there. Then followed the Javelins with Zatara, Batman and Black Canary along with them. To say they were surprised would overwhelmingly be understated. Their surprise or rather worry was on the precipice of frightening and terrified. A super-volcano in stage three. In a million years, they could never have wagered that their covert team would be in such a situation in the first place, let alone stop it. Even from a distance, they were able to see the satellite feed of what happened and hoped beyond hope their kids were alright. And then the mysterious hero came in to save the day while they were almost too late, once again, and unsure if they could do anything about it in the first place. No matter. The earth was safe for now and they had to thank this individual for it. Regardless, the questions and congratulations had to wait.

The stranger stopped glowing and was charred so black, that one would mistake him for a mass of charcoal. He seemed to be breathing with great difficulty.

M'gann was the first to react. She recalled the bio-ship and placed their unknown saviour on a resting platform. The rest of the team and the red family piled into the ship, and they all flew together towards Mt. Justice, in shock and concern as here was a stranger who had the power to stop a semi-extinction level event single-handedly when they all working together would have had a tough time stopping it, let alone in about five minutes at most in total.


Mt. Justice.

Silence permeated the hall. The entire Justice league had gathered with exception of Wonder Woman. They knew that she was embroiled in a conflict of civilizations with her sisters. An unlikely alliance between Circe, Ares and Hades wreaked havoc on their paradise. Fortunately with support of the council and her abilities, the Amazons stood a chance.

None of them had words to describe their feelings. But one thing was certain. A being as powerful as this had gone unnoticed for so long. His motivations were unknown. His powers were unknown. He was as much a mystery to batman as humanity was to the red family.

The red family. Another set of unknown variables. How could they discern the truth and verify their accounts? Was this a part of their original programming? How to be sure that they really wanted to be heroes? So many questions. The answers stemmed to elude them that day.

The figure stirred and immediately the gaze of every individual in that room shifted to him. In a gravelly whisper, that sounded like chalk scratching on a blackboard, "Water… get me to the water".

Superman was the first to respond. Seems like he and Con… the illegitimate clone were the only ones who heard this plea. He immediately swooped down, lifted the kid up gently and placed him in the water. Instantly the wounds started to heal, and a green glow enveloped the kid. After a few minutes, the face seemed to have healed sufficiently for the kid to open his eyes.

"Thank You, Superman." the unknown kid rasped out. Once again, silence enveloped the entire hall.

The kid was internally panicking. He assumed that the amount of energy would burn off his body and he could recuperate in his place of power. But it barely charred his flesh. He needed help and his partner from another era was the best at figuring out what to do. Perhaps he could count on the Wisdom Goddess to come through for him once, like she did at Hoover. So he prayed to her for a stratagem... with no discernable reply.

He knew it was time to talk. "I believe it is impolite to stare? Nonetheless, I have you to thank for my... speedy recovery. I am certain that you have questions but I cannot promise you answers for all of them. After all, I can be privy to my own secrets aren't I?" (The last part was directed to Batman).

Batman spoke in his low, baritone voice. "We aren't the villains here... kid. And normally we wouldn't force you to reveal all your secrets. Nor your origins. But in the past few months there have been many unexplained and rather coincidental occurrences to just leave a possible rail-gun at large. The powers you wield over the earth, water and air are scary when wielded one at a time. But all at once, it is rather disconcerting to not be prepared in the future. So please, I mean this truly, do not force me to pursue you to figure out your secrets."

The stranger looked rather discomforted with the monologue from Batman. He was healing. Unnaturally quickly. One that began only when he was placed in water. The torso's flesh had been replaced and his lower body's charred skin had ceased to exist. He twitched his mouth and then stopped. He fell into deep thought and after quite a few uncomfortable minutes, he began to speak.

"My name is Percy Jackson. I live in New York, and you can find me whenever you please. My powers mainly rely on water, air and earth and I have extended them to the other states they can exist in, with limited power."

Batman looked impassive as always. Visibly incomprehensible and an emotionless zombie. Zatara spoke, "How old are you?"

The kid, self identifying, Percy answered. "That would be a complicated answer. But my physiological age is seventeen."

Zatara tweaked his brows at that... "Does that imply that you are immortal, long-lived or unaging? Or maybe a clone of some sort force grown in a few weeks?"

Percy smirked. "Ding. Ding. Ding. We have the right questions from the impressive Sorcerer over here. Unfortunately only I and a select few can be privy to those personal details."

Batman was showing emotions. Visibly. Nobody understood why. It was after all a routine thing in their world where people aren't that forthcoming. And Batman never lost his emotions in front of strangers but always got to the bottom of it. Something about this kid was pissing him off.

Before he could say something, Black Canary interrupted. "Alright... Percy... The league won't pry into your past. But we would still like to know where you trained, why and how long you did so."

From her tone and words, Percy was able to make out that while the league wouldn't, Batman surely would. Deciding answering her questions, "I have been training since I was 12. I trained mainly in sword fighting and I did so at a summer camp."

Canary was surprised that he answered that. Although they never really got good derails to identify him.

Her thoughts were cut short by Batman... "A summer camp? I do not believe that there exists such a camp in the country today and the only camps that train children at that age are established by the League of Shadows."

To that, he received a peal of raucous laughter, more frightening than amusing. "I can assure you with solemn oaths, Batman. Neither Ra's nor his daughter have anything to do with my training. And although I would have loved to train there, I have far surpassed their level and their fighting style would impede mine more than it would improve. The camp I trained in no longer exists in this world. it was cut off from us all and you won't find it."

He then looked down a bit dejected. "I know because I tried. Many times."

Then the cave computer announced in its computerized crackling monotone, " Recognized: Wonder Woman. 03."

His eyes widened. He didn't expect her to come this fast. He hadn't seen her in a long time. A few decades to be more precise. Yet she looked the same. Just as beautiful and regal. She hadn't seen him yet and she was still coming through the teleporter. Before he could stop his mouth, the words came out. "Oh shit!!"

Diana didn't know what to expect from the League's emergency hail. The last one had led to the formation of the younger team. She didn't like it but she accepted it all the more. After all in Themiscyra, by the age of twelve you would start your specialised training in sorcery, combat or knowledges.

Yet, man's world was... fragile, for a lack of a better word. An Amazon was on average five to twenty times stronger than an average human. Higher order Amazons like Artemis were nearly a hundred times stronger. So she didn't want kids from man's world to be combating the evils they faced as adult heroes everyday. Training and drive can only help so much. The need to be more mature and far better prepared and the team, no matter how much you can try, need to be adults to see the horrors and cope.

Nevertheless, she was overruled in the formation of this team and she would admit, she might have been wrong over their tenacity and their ability. Perhaps, there's much she is yet to discover about humankind.

What she certainly wasn't prepared for as she walked into the hall where her colleagues were gathered, was to find a ghost from her past, healing in the pool of water in front of her with portions of his flesh missing and regenerating most of his critical organs and functions. She was certain he was her closest friend, her brother. Then one that had passed on. After all she could never mistake those eyes. Green, vibrant eyes filled with hesitation, guilt and shame.

She gasped, "Percy?"

He tried to smile but couldn't pull it off with only half his lips... "Hi, sis."

"But... How? Yo-You- You died. I saw you die. You died in my arms." She went from shock to angry in a moment. She drew a sword and before anyone realised it, it was pressing his Adam's Apple. "Who are you demon? What do you want? How could you ruin my memory of him? What have you done to him?"

Superman chose to interrupt at that moment and said,"Wonder Woman... He has been restrained successfully and I don't believe -".

Percy interrupted him, "It's alright Clark. The daughter of Zeus needs answers and I am the only one who can provide them."

Superman froze. His secret identity. This kid knows his secret identity. He was shocked. He whirled around and stared at him. "How did you know? Who are you truly?"

Percy ignored him. He reached up to the sword and said "Di... if I wanted to die, I would have gone to your Godly parents. Or let you take my head off at the Aquarium. So please lower the sword."

Diana had tears in her eyes. "I won't unless you can prove to me that you are him. Tell me what I told you when she tried to kill you. I need to hear it."

Percy's face was now fully formed. He smiled with a twinkle in his eye and said in Ancient Greek, "You are more than family. You are a part of me."

A loud clanging sound struck the hall as the sword dropped from her hand. The rest of the leaguers were stunned. Wonder Woman, was hugging their mysterious saviour. Almost like he would disappear if she let him go.

Percy stroked her back. "I am sorry, Di. So sorry." And tears fell from her face while she was visibly overjoyed.

And then she withdrew and punched him in the gut. He flew across the room and banged into caverns of the rocky cave. And fell back into the pool.

(In Ancient Greek)

"That hurt."

"Yeah? I have been hurting for nearly half a century. So unless you tell me more, there's more to come."

"Not in front of them."

"Fine. But as soon as this is done, we are having a long talk."

Superman meanwhile caught her hand and said, "Who is he Diana? Who is he to you?"

None of the others were ready for her reply.

"He is my brother."


Whatever it was Clark was expecting, it certainly wasn't that. "He is your brother?" At her nod, he further pressed. "As in he too was formed from clay by your mother and blessed by the King of Greek Gods with life?"

Diana cracked a smile at that. "Not quite. By birth, he would be my cousin. But his blood runs through my veins and he is in all but birth my full-blooded brother..."

As the rest of the Leaguers were trying to wrap their mind around this revelation, Percy decided to clarify.

"She forgot to say that my blood isn't permanently flowing through her veins as she no longer has a blood-based anatomy. Being the champion of the Gods and all."

(In Ancient Greek)

"I see. The don't know that you have long since become more than a mortal? I thought they were your closest allies... Trust and all."

Diana narrowed her eyes and replied, "Right now... you don't get to say things like that."

Percy looked ashamed. "Di... I am sorry. I truly wanted to tell you. By the time I recovered, you went back. I waited for you to reappear into the plane of man, and when you did, I almost revealed my survival.

"But I felt scared. I was insecure. I didn't want to be rejected and I saw you had learned to move on from my unfortunate passing. You had a family here Di. And I didn't want my selfish need to be close to my... sister... derail anything that happened in this world.

"I can't really say why I stayed away. There's no simple justification for the pain I caused you. I understand if you never want to see me again. Whatever be the case, if you ever need me, come to Montuak and call for me."

As he said this he began glowing blue. But Diana didn't let him get away. She crashed into him and pulled him into a bear hug. "Little brother... I may be mad or angry, but I can never hate you. And you don't get off that easy." Her eyes were glinting with mischief. "After all, Amazonian retribution is said it to be as just as it is painful."

Her eyes hardened immediately... "If however you even attempt something like this in the future, you will learn that I will not be as benevolent as I have been today. I maybe be embodying peace right now but should I embody war... Well, you'll see."

Percy gulped. He knew that she never threatened with her domains unless she was serious. Quite terrifyingly serious. "You have my word."

(In normal English)

"Ahem... As entertaining as this completely unintelligible conversation has been, I would still like to know how your brother knows who I am?" Clark's voice interrupted Diana's little moment with her brother. If it was anyone else, she would have been extremely irritated. However, she had a soft spot for Clark and Bruce. So she stamped out the irritation that was bubbling up inside of her and instead redirected it towards her brother... "That is a valid concern, Perseus. Why and How do you know his secret identity?"

Percy raised an eyebrow. "Are you trying to be intimidating by calling me Perseus? Cause sis, you should know that intimidation isn't really your style..." However he hastily changed his tune when he saw her narrowing her eyes at him. "Nonetheless, moving towards answering your question...

"I was the one who ensured that your pod was found by Jonathan and Martha Kent. I was also the one who guided the resident rich boys to their trainers. I know every single one of your secret identities and your origins because I was tasked to undo the damage to this universe, specifically ensure that your destinies are unaltered so that you achieve what your supposed to. That is why I intervened today to stop not only the not-supposed-to-happen Yellowstone's eruption but also to ensure the survival of the kids you are using in your war."

At his last statements the so called kids started to protest while the atmosphere among the grown ups became more pensive. It was a sore topic and the comment about using them in their war hit hard. Before they could counter, he proceeded to knock his rhetoric down a notch and said, "Look... I can't reveal my origins or anything else as I am bound by solemn oaths. If my... patron deems it necessary, my story will be revealed to you with or without my consent. I am yet to earn your trust but I cannot think of anyway you could verify my claims. The most I can offer is a binding oath on the Styx to assuage your concerns."

Diana interrupted him. "That wouldn't be necessary. I will vouch for you if " - and by if she means he would have to do it with no exceptions - "you agree to be in my care till the league is satisfied."

Batman's gravelly baritone interrupted her. "While I trust Diana completely, I don't believe it is good to have a clear threat who knows all our secret identities to be on the loose. Even if he is being watched by Diana constantly, I and a lot of the others here would much prefer he remain in the Hall of Justice quarters until we can verify his claims and intentions."

Diana glared at Batman. Her brother just came back from the dead and he wants her to let him stay at that cold, desolate place? Like hell she would.

She was about to retort when Percy's voice interrupted her. "What if until you can verify my claims, I remain bound in Amazonian sorcery and bracelets. After all they are known to contain a god. Me being an enhanced mortal shouldn't be an issue."

Zatara spoke up. "I believe that we do not need any of that. A simple spell would verify if whatever you have claimed is true. But it would go a long way in reassuring us all if you did give that solemn oath."

With four suggestions, the league started deliberating on what to do. It was finally Zatara's choice which won out with an added clause, Percy would need to be supervised by Wonder Woman for a month or two.

An oath on the Styx was given with a boom signifying the complete truth said in that oath.


Before the leaguers could disperse, Superboy finally spoke up. Perseus had just finished healing fully and he knew beyond any doubt that this was his friend. In fact his best non-cape friend. Travis Stoll.

Before he could stop himself he asked in a small voice heard only by Superman, Wonder Woman and Batman (as he was standing right next to him), "What game are you playing, Travis?"

Once again Superman's world came to an abrupt halt. While he was still coming to terms that someone managed to clone him, this guy knew his entire family, his identity and now had infiltrated his clone's life. He was incredibly angry and his eyes glowed red. He whirled around so quickly that it propelled a shockwave through the cave. He immediately rushed with a closed fist to smash him to pulp but Diana caught his fist and in a blink had him in a choke hold. Her eyes were murderous, "We may be friends Clark, but touch one hair on his head and you won't like what I do next." She then released him with Clark awkwardly standing and glaring at Percy. He was about to say something but thought better and walked towards Batman.

Percy was glowing from embarrassment and despite the situation Flash, Green Arrow and the rest of their light hearted heroes let out a little chuckle. Before they could try and wrap their minds around this incredibly moody situation, Conner walked up to Percy with Diana eyeing him with a little glare.

He ignored her and asked again, "Travis?"

Percy grimaced and then smiled. "Hey Conner."

M'gann also joined. Clearly now surprised at what she saw as Percy was fully healed, "Travis?"

Percy grimaced once again. "Hello M'gann."

He knew they wanted to know more. But they were clearly hurt. "My real name is Percy. I... am truly sorry for the deception. But you and Conner are incredibly powerful. And with Supes ignoring Conner, I was the only one who could guide him without coming as one among those who lecture him. Even you M'gann have so many insecurities from your time on Mars and everything you learnt of Earth came from whatever Manhunter streamed home. I needed to ensure that two of the most potent and powerful heroes knew they were valued and realized their capabilities. I needed them to know they could make Earth their home... a true home starting with a friend who wasn't in their business. And... And... I was lonely and wanted friends too."

Conner and M'gann were staring at him unreadably. Percy sighed clearly distraught, "Well then. Please take care... You were good friends and I hope one day, you would forgive me."

Through his speech he had gained the attention of most of the heroes there. They were moved. Superman felt ashamed. He wore the symbol of hope and he failed his duty. His responsibility. And this guy again stepped in. He couldn't know now if he was good or bad. But he tried to make the clone comfortable. it was much more than he even attempted to.

"Why me then? You introduced yourself to me as Luke..." a clearly agitated Artemis spoke out. Percy glanced at her and smiled too. "You doubt yourself too much, Artemis. You are a diamond in the rough. I am sure everyone's told you this already, but you must not define yourself, not by your background or by your history. I had to ensure this team remains cohesive. And like I told them, I was lonely and wanted friends.

"Clearly, you are looking for everyone's best interests here like you did mine, Arion. If not for your... advice, I might have been too conflicted to completely shrug of my love loss. So while I am not happy about your deception, I will say thank you." Aqualad stiffly replied.

Percy smiled widely, "Hey... I am thankful that you still consider me a friend."

Aqualad smiled at that... "I have learnt from friends before that an identity can be a mask, but vulnerable actions define your heart. Even if you didn't realize it, you did slip details out occasionally like your cousins nicknames were Thunder Thighs and Death Breath or that your friends were very good pranksters. And while I am not advanced enough, I have been practicing aura spells and whenever you were around, it was always comforting and friendly."

Artemis spoke next and gritted out, "I guess I can't really say I am a fan of your style. But I hope we can continue our sessions. Still pissed about it and you have to make it up to me."

Percy smiled and said, "Wouldn't have it any other way."

Conner and M'gann looked to be in a deep conversation before he sighed out, "It's clear we have a lot to discuss Trav- I mean Percy... Our usual spot, Monday?"

Percy grimaced before saying, "I'll be there. Just give me a chance." He looked up with hopeful eyes and M'gann's smile assuaged his fear slightly. With that they and most other leaguers left with Green Arrow, Batman, Superman, Martian Manhunter, Black Canary, the Red family and Wonder Woman staying behind.

Wonder Woman was doing a hybrid smile and glare... With her hands on her hips, she nearly gritted out, "I am slightly jealous that you had more time for those twerps than me... But we will have that conversation later."

Black Canary went next... "I want to say Thank You... I was having a tough time handling Superboy and Artemis but noticed they weren't as angry and far more willing to train. I pushed but all they said was they made a non-cape friend. While I don't like you pretending to be someone else, it worked."

Percy didn't know what to say. As the silence slowly grew, Green Arrow also said the same thing but in a more threatening variety. Weirdly hilarious though as Wonder Woman was glaring at him and he excused himself pretty quickly with Canary's snickers following him.

Superman went next. "I am uncomfortable that you know so much about me. And I know you have done nothing but good but I have been burnt too many times in the past to believe. So I and Batman would be more accepting if you would share some of your memories to Martian Manhunter. If he says its okay then I won't have a problem with you. Is that acceptable?"

Percy sighed... "I would if I could. One of the problems is I have been to a place where horrors are an every moment thing! My mind isn't a nice place to be and that is if he can even break through the barriers my patron placed around my mind. But if you still want to try, give it a shot."

Supes was contemplating and the Martian took the lead. "Please stay calm." His eyes glowed green. It continued a while and Diana was getting agitated. She was about to force J'onn out of his trance when Percy just tugged her hand and she calmed down. It was weirdly intimate yet platonic. And reassuring. But the situation changed when J'onn bellowed loudly in pain. Hearing him Superman swiftly caught him before he hit the ground while M'gann came rushing as she felt her uncle's psychic anguish.

She instantly recognized then situation, and glared at Tra- no Percy. She snarled, "What did you do?" She began levitating. Before the situation could escalate Percy rushed out with, "I told him that my mind was not a nice place and he still insisted, M'gann. Ask them," pointing at the heroes around him, "they'll confirm what I said."

Whatever she was about to say was cut off when J'onn stammered out, "Ta - T - T -Tar - Tartar..." The incoherent banking finally snapped their patience. Batman snarled, "What did he seen there?" ,Percy quickly cast his down and felt Diana's hand on his shoulder. "The pit of eternal damnation. A hellscape that none without a divine heritage should be able to withstand. It is a miracle that he is even slightly coherent. Though I didn't expect him to even make it beyond the barriers. A testament to his strength I suppose."

M'gann glared at him as she helped levitate her uncle into the med bay. Superman stood there uncomfortably not knowing how to proceed. Batman meanwhile was fuming. He wanted and nearly demanded to know everything but Diana seemed to be pretty protective. He needed to be sneaky to know everything about this loose canon. He couldn't wait and he had to make countermeasures to ensure success. At the moment he couldn't do anything. But he would get to the bottom of it.

He got an idea. Sometime back he ran into Klarion. While he had not done much to counter the witch boy, he studied the chaos infused magic pills he had left behind. The seemed to respond to his commands for some unknown reason. He decided to shroud his bug with them and place it on Diana so she couldn't discover it. "Diana, if I may have a word in private."

She looked like she wanted to say no but she decided she would hear him out. "Princess. You can't be serious in allowing a random stranger into your life just because he looks and can recall memories from your past together. It could very well be one of Circe's nasty schemes." While he did this he deftly flicked his bug that landed on the insole of her heels. "Maybe you use your lasso of truth on him?"

Diana smiled at the concern her friend showed for her wellbeing. She placed a hand on his shoulder. "You needn't worry. I have confirmed that it truly is him. You see, one of the lesser known qualities of my lasso is beyond extracting truth, is that it can signify a familial relation between people. And it has been glowing everytime I was near him since he told me what it and I wanted to hear. He is truly my brother. So worry not, Bruce. I know beyond a doubt and he even swore on the Styx, an oath if broken will have serious repercussions on mortals and immortals alike."

Batman was transfixed. He almost believed him but a small red glisten in his eyes caused him to change his mind. "Hmph... He will have to earn my trust, Princess. And I can only trust him if I k ow his background and story."

Diana got a dangerous glint in her eyes. "Bruce. I am warning you not to pursue this for your own good. Many of us didn't know who you were at first. Later on we learnt but we chose to trust you irrespective of it. But, I know I won't stop you from pursuing this as long as you respect his and my privacy. Lastly, if I find that you have been less than good at extracting information, we will be having a very different kind of conversation." Just to make her point she added a little strength to her grip on his shoulder, "Are we clear?"

Batman gritted his teeth and replied, "I will do as much as possible within the realms of personal privacy." Diana knew that what he said wasn't entirely what she wanted to hear, but that would have to do. "Make sure you heed my words, Bruce. Sometimes, I warn you not because I am the threat but because there are other factors that I might not be able to protect you from."

With that last warning she left Batman far more confounded and intimidated than anytime he ever had been in the past.


As Orin made his way to Atlantis, he reflected on that day's events. He had a long day initially with all the work at court. Then the emergency justice league hail concerning all their proteges was frightening. He knew in his heart that Aqualad and the rest would have all but reached Elysium if not for the intervention of the stranger... who just happened to be the brother of the Amazonian Princess. That was a hell of a coincidence.

And the revelation that he knew all their identities and even his backstory, had also been talking with all their proteges helping them unload their insecurities or just helping them fit in was terrifyingly concerning and reassuring at the asne time. He certainly didn't know what to make of it and he didn't want to get in Diana's bad book. After all, she had fought in WWII and was also a part of their preceding JSA, before returning to her island under mysterious circumstances. She had been alive for a long time and would best him easily in combat though he might prove to be a worthy opponent with his trident. In the brief interactions he witnessed, she was incredibly protective of her... little brother. It was definitely complicating the situation further. For now though, Diana's little brother, now her charge, was an unexpected variable in a chaotic mix. He was looking for the days ahead and perhaps even getting to know the chap better. Certainly the days ahead would be interesting if not outrageously exciting.


Both Diana and Percy, were enthusiastic to be reunited. Although he would have liked for their reunion to have happened better circumstances and far more... privately. Now that she knew he was alive and was more overjoyed than he would have ever anticipated, he was sure, they would be able to recapture their dynamic quite soon. He just had to get out of the woodwork and explain whatever he could to her.

"So, Di? How about we go to a Diner? My treat?"

Diana smiled. "Of course, Perce. I know a delicious little place in New York... Canary told me that's where you love currently."

Percy replied with a mischievous smile, "Alright. Let's get going. I am happy to get on a date so quickly. Although I must say, you Amazons really are desparate."

Before she could reply, he took her hand and they both glowed blue and broke down into mist on their way to their two person reunion soiree.