Four Boys Chapter 6, a young justice fanfic

FOUR BOYS: The Path We Seek

Chapter 6: The League

"Show me a hero, and I'll write you a tragedy."

...The Watchtower...

The zeta-tube came to life… "AQUAMAN 06."

The king of Atlantis came out of the light a troubled expression marring his face. Flash passed by, eating some chips, upon seeing Aquaman he swallowed quickly and said, "Have you found any lead? Where the substance came from?"

"Yes...I have already alerted Batman, I come here to call for a meeting." Aquaman responded.

Flash nodded and began contacting all available members.

...

Now twelve members of the league sat in the Watchtower's meeting room, silence hung in the place for a bit, Aquaman then stood, surveying each leaguers face… Flash - Green Lantern - Red Tornado - Green Arrow - Captain Marvel - Batman - Martian Manhunter - Superman - Wonderwoman - Black Canary - Doctor Fate, each giving their undivided attention to the king of the seas. Aquaman explained the situation to all the leaguers, getting into details about the search groups that were formed and the lists of possible suspects finally getting to what they found.

"David Kane. He is not one of my people, but rather a single-father who lost his son many years ago. He is from Baltimore, Maryland a sea-life researcher-"

"-Wait, do you believe a mere researcher would have been able to come up with a whole hybrid compound that turns a normal person into an atlantean?" Green Arrow said in disbelief.

Batman´s eyes narrowed as he typed on the holographic keyboard. They stared at the image of a man who was now posing with a number, ""Yes, when his research evidences that he has been working with genetic manipulation. He has been in Mary-lands state prison since 8 years ago which consequently agrees with the time of the substance´s creation.

Batman stated. "We will be conducting further interrogations."

Aquaman summed, "Queen Mera studied the substance, it possess atlantean DNA as well as other factors."

"Other?" Flash said curiously.

"The substance has an additional mixture though in a very small quantity, a mutant factor, an upgrade to a normal atlantean enhancing force and water control." Aquaman added.

Batman stared at Flash, "Ah wait! a mutating compound that enhances force and control— it does seem awfully familiar with- can it be?!"Flash said turning to look back at Batman.

The dark knight´s mouth was set in a grim line. He deployed a screen of images of a red substance and a muscle bald man. "Bane's Neo-esteroid is the only known substance that can upgrade DNA with a low risk of permanent damage, it also increases durability. I've been keeping tags on Santa Prisca, the world-wide producer of the illegal super steroid Kobra Venom, its seems it has ceased all shipping of the drug, despite the fact that the facility seems to be producing the steroid at full capacity."

"So then David Kane developed the atlantean substance and gave it away? Now somebody else possibly created a mix between the first substance and Cobra Venom. Aside from that, the factory is producing more but has stopped shipping the drug which means..." Green Arrow summarized.

"Which means that the first shipment used to create the atlantean trait was just test and now that it had positive results, the buyer is looking for more." Batman concluded, all heroes seemed aggravated at the mess they were suddenly getting into.

"Did you find out who was the buyer is in either of both cases?" Wonder woman said turning to Flash, Batman and Aquaman.

"We believe this is where CADMUS comes to play, they created the mutant substance for The Light, whoever they are, they sure know how to cover traces and silence loose ends. Every move till now was made by Cadmus labs while the Light remains hidden." Flash commented at which the other heroes nodded.

"So the boys which are creations of Cadmus are indeed in the Light's side and are to be treated as enemies. That would mean this information may also be false and lead to a trap." Wonder Woman stated.

"Not necessarily. No." Batman interjected.

"Wait-Am I really hearing this right? Batman, Mr I-don't-trust-anybody is actually believing in them?" Green Lantern almost half-laughed.

"You heard them yourself Batman, they called themselves weapons created to destroy us." Superman said grimly.

"I believe they are just misguided kids. Also judging on King Orin's findings and the suspicious case of the Santa Prisca factory I think it makes sense." Black Canary said thoughtfully.

"I agree, children can be easily misguided, and as you have said before they grew there all this time." Martian Manhunter said calmly.

"So that was what that boy lead us to." Flash said smiling.

Batman nodded, "Yes. Some possible suspects, as well as their next move."

"Are we really going to trust some meta human kids created for and I quotes 'the sole purpose of destroying us.' Just because of some coincidences? It may still be all a trap." Green Lantern said.

The debate had started on whether to trust them or not, Batman soon silenced everybody. "We are not here to judge right now on whether or not to trust them or the information given. Our goal right now is heading to Santa Prisca to stop the substance to reach the buyer and end all production before we find ourselves facing an army of mutants."

"I will make the necessary preparations for your departure." Red Tornado said. Six members of the League departed for Santa Prisca.

️...Santa Prisca...

"Sooo all we have to do is wait for the shipment to be loaded on the helicopter and leave? LAAAMEEEE." the speedster exclaimed.

Water sighed he hated it as well,"We cannot go against the Light's orders. This umm 'venom' appears to be of great importance to them."

The four boys were surrounding a helicopter in Santa Prisca as members of the Kobra cult filled the helicopter. The crates contained viles of kobra venom which would then be enhanced with the Blockbuster formula of CADMUS. Although they were not disclosed of the need for the substance and its possible applications, R knew better and feared for the worse possible outcome.

"Don't sweat it L, we'll have plenty of fun when the real owner of the factory arrives and maybe, even after." R grinned.

"Oh the 'EL LUCHADOR' guy.. I'm sure he won't be any fun either, he should be running far away from here knowing that we came to retrieve the cargo." L said and as if on cue gunshots filled the air, the four then turned their attention to the jungle that surrounded them.

S grinned and cracked his knuckles."Finally we get some real action."

R got his scrims sticks out and called at his speedster partner, "Funny thing is, that he doesn't know we are the ones responsible for the retrieval. That should have been clue enough to not make an appearance."

"I'm happy he appeared though." L grinned.

...

Many armed men started shooting at the ones filling the cargo.

"PROTECT THE CARGO!" R ordered. W created a water shield protecting the helicopter. R got between Bane's army and their suppliers and began to divert the bullets with his scrima sticks as if it was nothing. L had taken the offensive task along with S both disarming man by man and taking their weapons.

"Told you this mission was not going to be entertaining at all." L sighed as he saw the unconscious 'army'. He scoffed.

A deep laughter was heard and heavy footsteps made their way to them, it was Bane he looked animalistic his eyes wide and veins along his arms, the red liquid flowing to his neck.

"Such clever niños, but I can't let you leave with my product." With that he jumped and tackled Superboy punching him twice before the clone turned things over. W soon joined trying to contain Bane and the incoming new soldiers. L seemed eager to help and would of dashed off if not for the command his leader had given him.

"We need to move the cargo inside the helicopter, ASAP."

Seeing R's anxious expression L could only imagine the reason he felt that way… accomplishing the mission was the fore most important task.

The speedster nodded and flashed to help move the remaining boxes.

R got inside the helicopters cabin, surveying the area outside, things were moving a bit too slow for his liking but, the mission was aiming for success till now…

He grinned relief flooding his face, until it was soon gone seeing the radar in the board reading six incomings from the sky, he looked above and cursed punching the red button at his right.

Outside the helicopter L had finished his task, seeing the helicopter blades staring to move he gave and odd look 'is he leaving alone?' The members of the Kobra cult started running to the jungle and some started shooting at the sky, the speedster directed his sight and his eyes widen… Martian Manhunter and Green Lantern descending, with his ring the space cop had created a platform in which Batman, Flash, Aquaman, stood, they were getting closer to ground level, though the gunshots were delaying their descent.

'Oh no' he thought, Lighting watched his other two teammates looking at the descending heroes with equal expressions. Bane had been thrown to a tree, he rendered unconscious and at least 30 soldiers where scattered around them. The speedster wasted no more time, dashing into the helicopter's cabin.

"YO REN! We've got League company what should we-" L stopped as he felt the dangerous aura emitting form the young leader who walked past him into the ground.

R analized the situation, Green Lantern had created a shield also, protecting them from the remaining shooters. He swiftly screamed running fast towards his teammate "Superboy!" His teammate caught up fast creating a leverage to catapult his leader upward.

The Leaguers didn't have much time to do anything as they saw the boy being launched in the air, and in less than a second he had gotten to their height and threw many black spherical devices which exploded instantly, sending the Leaguers falling downward, he kept looking at them as he fell.

'I won't go in there again, I don't want to have to go through that again, I will complete this mission' R thought desperately.

Water caught him easily and the four got into a fighting stance waiting for the smoke to clear a bit, or thats what S, L, and W had in mind. R rushed forward vanishing into the smoke. One by one Green Lantern, Martian Manhunter, Aquaman, and Flash were taken out of the smoke and thrown infront of the other three who stood bewildered at first but rushed to fight them with all their might.

'I won't let R suffer alone again' L said as he dodged a fast punch.

'He shouldn't be the one facing everyones mistakes' W thought slashing through a green shield.

S growled 'he is the most human of us after all'.

The thoughts motivated the three into giving their best to complete the mission. They were after all a team.

...

Meanwhile in the half-dissipated cloud Batman glared dangerously at the boy in front of him.

"Guess you did figure it out,detective." R commented "Even a little earlier than expected." His knuckles turned white as he gripped the sticks hardly. "I´ve underestimated you."

"What are you aiming for?" Batman asked, at which silence hung for a bit until the younger answered, "...Getting the mission done, its pretty obvious don't you think."

The bat glared, "You know well what I mean. You were the one who gave out the signal for us to find Cadmus right..."

There was no answer.

Batman continued, "You handed us enough information to track you down, then you bring down a whole building above us, I suppose you were the ones ordered to dispose of the 4 scientists to cut some loose ends, but then again, you knew it didn´t matter. With what you left with us, you knew we would be able to track you down after that bit of evidence. I don't believe in coincidences…What's your game?" He demanded,

R opened his mouth but soon closed it. "You wouldn't understand." he mumbles.

Taking a deep calming breath he launched towards the Dark Knight. The battle continued, each side not giving up, the Kobra cult had joined the fight and Bane along with the soldiers had fled the place. Mammoth, and Shimmer had appeared and joined the fight alongside Water and Superboy, getting the upper hand in the fight.

Batman and Renegade had been going for almost 10 minutes now.. each acknowledged the others strength and capabilities and neither would give in.

Batman aimed a punch to the boys torso and it connected, surprisingly, the boy was thrown to the other side, the other stopped fighting as they shielded their leader from the others.

Ren sat up and grabbed his head with one hand, he said nothing for a while, L, S and W knew that it meant… their masters were talking, but the leaguers stood bewilder.

"UM… WHAT HAPPENED WHAT IS HE DOING?" Flash asked quietly.

R then spoked, "They want us out of this mess or they will consider the mission as failed." He swayed dangerously as he got up, they all saw then how vulnerable he could be.

10_

L couldn't take it longer he directed his attention to the Leaguers infront… "YOU KNOW, YOU CALL YOURSELF THE JUSTICE LEAGUE, HELPING PEOPLE IS PART OF THE GIG RIGHT!?"

"-L" R tried stopping the speedster.

"NO! ITS UNFAIR, HAVE YOU 'HEROES' THOUGHT THAT MAYBE YOUR ACTS OF 'JUSTICE' DESTROY OTHER PEOPLES LIVES, YOU HURT OTHERS AND STILL ACT HIGH AND MIGHTY, R IS-"

"STOP NOW!" R said dangerously.

"Lighting you'll get in trouble too." Water reasoned.

"I don't care… R IS GOING TO BE PUNISHED AGAIN. LAST TIME HE SHOWED UP WITH BRUISES AND SOAKING WET, IF YOU CALL YOURSELF HEROES START HELPING THE RIGHT-"

"ACK!" the shocked faces of the League could only add to the ones of the speedster, as he fell to the ground, his stomach hurting ftom the hard punch R had aimed to him.

The raven haired was standing in front of the speedster, he looked utterly pissed and his cheeks were on fire.

"We leave. Now" he ordered sternly.

Smoke bombs were thrown to the leaguers direction making them halt int their approach.

L coughed and then stared at the smaller member, S and W supported him as they boarded the already rising helicopter.

Green Lantern tried encasing the helicopter in a green box, but soon the green box shattered. The heroes looked at the space cop as he groaned, eyes widening as they saw the small raven had jumped 5 meters in a millisecond and punched the man straight in the gut rendering him unconscious.

Martian Manhunter tried to render him unconscious by mind-blasting him, but one look, and the martian screamed and fell to the ground. Aquaman ran to the kid and din't stand a chance when S came barreling toward him.

Flash and Batman remained stoic, watching the seen unfold and did nothing to stop the kid, he looked exhausted and distressed. Lightings words had made them think of the possibility of the boys being the victims in this. Of course they were, but why did they fight them, why not come with them willingly.

The helicopter flew 12 meters above ground, R shot a line which W grabbed and started pulling him up. S jumped high enough to reach the cabin. They left the two leaders standing there and the other three unconscious ones, along with many scattered soldiers as well as scattered thoughts in their mind.

As soon as R got inside the helicopter his legs gave out, and he breathed heavily. An uncomfortable silence remained the whole ride, but along with it relief…. They had somehow done it, with S and W's power and support, L's rant and propositional logic, R's skills and endurance and the Leagues…pity? No. it hadn't felt like that.. It was more like an unspoken answer to Lightning's words, a silent promise to all of them, they were not alone.

Ren wanted to believe.

The chamber opened and the helicopter landed at the base. Seven bulky men started taking the remaining undamaged crates out checking the viles and taking them to the laboratory.

R made his way to the computer, lighting up the seven screens contacting their leaders.

The screens lighted up. The mission had been called success and therefore the were left to their premises, after disclosing the events they were never congratulated, it was their mission, they had to complete whatever the cost. The Light stated that two times now the League had almost stopped their plans, they are now a top priority threat that will have to be dealt with directly soon enough. With that the team headed to their base.