Chapter 28: Engage
Taipei
September 7, 21:35 NST
And here I was hoping there would actually be talks of peace. Not a screaming match.
It's only been five minutes since the Rhelasian Peace Summit has begun and no one has barely been able to get a word out. Only because Minister Tseng and General Manh Li have been arguing with one another about how they can never be able to work together again. Arguments like this makes the ones between Dinah and I look like petty squabbles.
Sitting in-between both politicians is Lex Luthor, the moderator to the summit. I hate to admit it, but Luthor is probably the only reason Manh Li and Tseng haven't gone to war with each other. Because he hasn't let them do so. The media can label him a peacekeeper or a businessman all they want. I know who Luthor really is: a self-serving piece of scum that will do anything to profit off of people's suffering, and a desire to bring Superman to his knees.
Standing behind them stands Red Arrow, waiting for any Shadows to attack. Luthor may spin that he offered Red a position as a bodyguard for the summit, but he would deny that in a heartbeat. Everyone knows that the Leaguers, and their proteges, would never take a dime from anyone, especially from anyone like Luthor.
And me, sitting at one of the other three tables, I am dressed in a white strapless dress, with it barely touching the floor. I'm also wearing a pair of white lace-up heels, which feel very uncomfortable to be honest. I feel very exposed, or rather naked, in this get-up. The only reason I agreed to this is so that while Red Arrow watches for any Shadows from the main table, I can keep my eye out as well and do so without them knowing I'm here just yet. As soon as this is done, I'm getting back into uniform.
Thankfully, we have three sets of eyes here at the summit. In the crowd between the tables stands Aqualad as the first line of defense. When Roy called for help from the Cave, Kaldur'ahm offered his hand right away and zeta beamed to Taipei immediately. I do feel better knowing Kaldur's got our backs.
What's really putting me in the mood tonight is Roy. He is very prideful and hardly asks for help from anyone, including me at times. And when he radioed Mount Justice and actually admitted that he needed extra help, I was stunned. I didn't know who he was with at that moment. Our little Red Arrow is growing up.
"Gentlemen, this is mere rhetoric", Luthor says, breaking the ongoing vocal dispute. "Despite your differences, you still share an appreciation for many things, such as the exquisite art of the Rhelasian Tea Ceremony."
Making way towards our tables is a woman dressed in a Rhelasian red and purple robe, with white face makeup, red lipstick and a flower headband, with her black hair stylized in two buns. She walks down the aisle pushing a tea cart, with plates and cups for the tea ceremony. I look over to her, slightly where she can't tell I am, and analyze. Black hair, the right height and build. Got her. I place my hand up against my ear. "She's here. Go."
From the crowd, Aqualad turns to face Cheshire, with his water-bearers in hand. "That is far enough, Cheshire." Red Arrow steps forward, hand ready to draw on his bow and quiver.
Aqualad places his arms straight out left and right. Using his water-bearers, he draws the water from all the water drinks in the room. The water he is drawing out is being used to create a water barrier around everyone in the room.
Cheshire pushes her tea cart towards him. Red Arrow shoots an arrow from his bow, moving fast enough to make it past the barrier before completion. The arrow hits the cart, creating an explosion on impact. No doubt Cheshire planted a bomb in the cart. The explosion pushes against the barrier, forcing Aqualad to stand his ground as he is being pushed back himself. It even makes me hold onto my chair as tight as I can hold.
When the dust settles, I open my eyes to find two gold statues lying on the ground, separating the people from Aqualad and Cheshire. I take a hold of my dress with both my hands and tear it to where I can see my knees and move more freely without having to trip over myself. I tie my hair into a bun and reach inside my purse for my mask. I may be out of costume, but I'd still like to keep my identity a secret.
I run and leap over the statues to join Aqualad. Looking on the other side of the room, I find shattered glass all over the floor, along with a giant hole in the side of the building. And then there's Cheshire lying on the ground, writhing in pain from the explosion.
Red Arrow joins our side as Aqualad rips off his already torn jacket. He draws another arrow and notches it as I pull out my bo staffs from my garters underneath my dress. "It's over Cheshire."
"You would think so." As she stands back up, a black helicopter rises to building's new hole, filled with Shadow mercenaries and Sportsmaster himself. This is gonna be fun.
Minister Tseng orders his men to fight the Shadows, who run off the helicopter towards us. Sportsmaster walks his way to us as Cheshire leaps and brings out her favored sais.
"Aqualad, take Sportsmaster. Canary, the Shadows. Cheshire's mine."
"So territorial and only our third date." What kinda dates does this girl go on?
Red Arrow shoots at Cheshire. She blocks it with her sais. That gives Aqualad and I enough of a distraction to leap over her and leave her to Red.
We make our way through a horde of Shadow mercenaries who're fighting Tseng's men. We look to find Sportsmaster demolishing some of them himself.
"Be careful, he won't go easy on you."
"Nor shall I." Aqualad charges after Sportsmaster, reading his water-bearers into maces. Man did Roy call the right guy to help us tonight.
Two Shadows come my way. I take my staff and strike them both in each of their stomachs, then kick them into the ground. Gotta hurt more with these heels on. And yes, I'm still able to run and fight with these on. Something Dinah taught me along the way.
Another Shadow charges towards me with his sword. I deflect it with my staff, disarming him even. I knee him in the gut. I look over to see one of Tseng's men cornered by a Shadow. I grab a hold of the one I have now and toss him towards the Shadow. He slams on top of his comrade, both laying on the ground. Tseng's man looks to me and nods. I nod back. You're welcome.
I look to Red Arrow, who's still at odds with Cheshire. Looks evenly matched. I look over to Aqualad, and he may be outmatched. Aqualad is rolling on the ground, avoiding one of Sportsmaster's own maces. Time to tag out.
I rush over to join Aqualad. Sportsmaster swings his mace towards me, but I duck and weave, dodging it like I would one of Grandpa Grant's sucker punches. I roll over to his side and sidekick him in his ribs. He doesn't go down, but he feels it. I pull out a knife and throw it at the mace line, snapping it in half. Sportsmaster comes after me now, making me throw my staff in the air and backflip away from him. I finally land on one of the statues on the ground, with my staff falling to me where I can catch it.
"What's the matter, little lady gonna run away now?"
"Not at all, jockhead. Unlike you Shadows, I don't run and hide."
Sportsmaster throws a javelin towards me. I dodge it. As it passes me, a light starts to blink. Oh no.
The small explosion sends my ass towards a column, sending pain all throughout my body. Still able to see clearly, Sportsmaster walks over to me as I lay on the ground. "Who's hiding now, little bitch?"
Before he can do anything, Aqualad jumps at Sportsmaster, sword in hand. It clashes against his armor, almost making it onto his skin though. Sportsmaster pulls out his own swords, deciding to make this an old-fashion duel. The Count of Atlantis vs. the Count of Shadows.
Still a bit dazed, I stand on my feet leaning against the column. I look over to find my staff, flown from the explosion, near the middle of the room. I steadily go in to get it. As I get it, I notice Aqualad and Sportsmaster aren't too far from me. More specifically, they're not out of my earshot.
"Not bad lad. Better than your team did in Santa Prisca, or Bialya."
"How did you—"
"Let's just say, I have an inside source. Very inside." Inside… a spy?
I look over to Aqualad, who looks troubled by what he's just heard. And to be honest, so am I. But I can't think about that, not now at least.
I look up to see Red on top of the statues now. He looks up towards the ceiling, and so do I. Smart thinking Roy.
"Aqualad, Canary, let's end this." Red shoots an arrow straight at a sprinkler on the ceiling. Next thing I know, every other sprinkler goes off, pouring water down on us. Thank god we have an Atlantean here.
I back towards the statues as Aqualad readies his water-bearers. With all the water pouring into the room, Aqualad creates a sea dragon-like creature as big as those columns. The sea dragon charges after the remaining Shadows left standing, with only Sportsmaster left. It charges after the rejected hockey player. Cheshire jumps in front of him. With her mask in one hand, and a smoke grenade in other.
She throws the grenade at the sea dragon, imploding the creature and releasing all the water, as well as filling up the room with a good amount of smoke. While coughing, I make my way back towards the peace summit, where Minister Tseng and General Manh Li are alive and well.
But I look behind me to find one last Shadow leap from the smoke and after the Rhelasian leaders. I charge my way to them as well. I release a white ribbon above me and wrap it around the Shadow's neck. I pull the ribbon downward, bringing the Shadow to the ground in an instant. Still trying to get up, I swing my staff onto his head, knocking him out cold.
I look back over to the battle area and see only Aqualad and Red Arrow still standing. They're gone. Figures.
"Young lady", I hear from behind. I see it is both the Prime Minister and General calling to me. "You are a most impressive fighter", General Manh Li says.
"We owe you our lives", Minister Tseng says, shaking my hand.
"Thank you, both of you. I was only doing what I knew was right, protecting you two so you could lead your nations to a new era of peace. If peace is still on the table, so to speak."
Both General Manh Li and Minister Tseng look to one another. "I suppose if these heroes can make it all the way to help out a foreign nation, it seems we should be able to do the same for each other", Manh Li begins.
"Yes, I believe you are right", Tseng follows. "Both Aqualad and Sp—"
"It's actually Red Arrow now."
"Oh, yes, my apologies. If Aqualad and Red Arrow can come to our aid, as well as this brave, young woman, we can certainly find a way to do the same for our nation."
"Fantastic!" I say with excitement. "Mr. Luthor", I say turning to Lex, "I believe they are ready to continue on with the Peace Summit."
I gotta say, seeing Luthor's face in that moment made the whole night worth it. He had this expression of something between frustration and constipation. He was just very, very upset with how this turned out for some reason. And I notice the woman behind him, his assistant I'm assuming. It seems like she was ready to do something. Because when I look into her eyes, I see a coldness that's ready to fire on anyone Luthor tells her too.
Luthor's expression changes in mere seconds, fast enough so that the Rhelasion leaders don't notice his anger boiling up in that bald head of his. "Yes, it would appear so. Thank you again, miss…"
"White Canary."
"Thank you, White Canary. Perhaps if we cross paths again, you could do me a great service again."
"Maybe, but I wouldn't get your hopes too high now, Mr. Luthor." I turn back to the Rhelasians and bow to honor them.
As I walk away from the biggest dick I've ever met, I look to my friends, who have the biggest grins on their faces I've ever seen. Roy looks so happy that smile might actually stick to his face. This was definitely a win.
After about 10 minutes of relocating to the ground floor, getting everyone ready, including the news, the Peace Summit goes without a hitch. Minister Tseng and General Manh Li sign their peace treaty, with Luthor still mediating the signing, leading to hopefully reuniting Rhelasia one day.
Roy, Kaldur and I, me back in uniform, exit the building as the signing continues. "Well today seemed like a good day, wouldn't you guys think?"
"Maybe. I still can't believe we just did a solid for Luthor."
"Not for Luthor. For peace."
"Kaldur's right. This is a win for peace, and seeing Luthor's face turn red as your outfit, worth it."
"Beyond all of that, if Ra's and the League of Shadows wanted to sabotage the Summit, the signing of the treaty renders their contract mute. It is over."
"Is it? I heard what Sportsmaster said."
"I heard him too."
"Do you really think there's a mole on your team feeding him intel?"
A mole. On our team. I can't imagine any of my teammates being a spy for Sportsmaster, or for anyone for that matter. I know I still don't know them all too greatly, but I can't imagine them betraying us like second nature. But who am I to judge. To some I'm considered a backstabber myself. Just ask the cat.
"It's not entirely implausible. I don't wanna think anyone on the Team is a mole, but if what Sportsmaster said is true…"
"You are right, Sara. We cannot rule out the possibility. I will investigate, quietly."
"Not tell them?"
"I do not want the unit unraveling over baseless suspicions. And if there is a mole, I have no wish to tip him or her off."
"I can help with that too."
"Sara…"
"No, I want to help. If there is a mole on the Team, I can find out better than anyone. I can stealth and infiltrate my way to the truth faster and better than any Shadow."
"I'd take her word on it. She would spy on me and Green Arrow during our training sessions, knew our moves better than we did. She can help."
"Very well. But this stays between the two of us. You cannot let your feelings or attachments to the others cloud your judgment. You cannot tell anyone. Not even Kyle."
Oh god, Kyle… I didn't even wanna think about him being the mole. Objective or not, there is no way in hell that Kyle Rayner is a mole. He is too good, too kind and too considerate to be an evil spy for any supervillain. I'll just have to remind myself of that every know and then.
"Okay then, no one else can know."
"Good luck with that you two."
Roy turns away and walks until we stop him. "One moment, my friend. Tonight, you could've called Green Arrow for help, or the Justice League. Instead, your first instinct was to call the Cave."
"And I never even gave him that idea. As I was already helping him."
"You're both right. The Team derserves… has my respect. I'm still getting used to this soloing stuff. But if you need me, I'll be there." Roy and Kaldur then shake hands. He really is maturing, growing on his own. Ollie would be so proud of you Roy.
"That could've gone better. Mercy was never able to show off her equipment thanks in part to that… White Canary. But nonetheless, our plan to ensure the eventual reunification of Rhelasia, under LexCorp's political guidance, is a success", Lex Luthor says.
"And thus, another corner of the world sees the Light", Ra's al Ghul says.
"Mistress, I believe the young heroine known as the White Canary to be—"
"You will leave this matter alone."
"But mistress—"
"You will do as I say, or I will cut out your heart before its next heartbeat!"
"Yes, mistress…" Cheshire leaves the room.
Nyssa, alone, meditates and thinks to herself. "Sara… One way or another, I will bring you home."