FOUR BOYS: The Path We Seek
Chapter 7: The Injustice League
"Nobody panics when things go 'According to Plan'... Even if the plan is horrifying."
...The Base, Living quarters...
The heavy silence lingered as they got to their base. Instead of celebrating their successful mission each boy took a side of the cave, Superboy aiming for the gym to destroy some punching bags. Water had gone to his favorite place for a swim. L had taken over the kitchen making a baloney 50cm sized sandwich, he was low on fuel but he was not so hungry, from there he could see R in the living room sitting in the couch, they were all in civies now.
He had to admit he always felt that way, S, W and himself would get along just fine, and each individually with R, but when they were a 'team' R would not be himself, they became the deadly weapon they were created to be.
L began making more sandwiches things needed to lighten up. He made his way to the couch sitting beside the raven haired, he offered R a 7cm sandwich which the other took after sometime. They ate in silence for a while, S and W made their way to the living room, each with a sandwich of their own.
After the mission they were not completely together, but they were not completely apart.
R sighed heavily as he stared at his sandwich, "Guys... I I'm sorry for everything."
"Being the leader is tough." Superboy commented casually dismissing the others depressing tone.
"It´s okay, Ren. I know I went way off board today, but I couldn't keep silent knowing that my best pal could possibly suffer again." R's eyes widened at the words 'best pal' it seemed so foreign to him, yet it warmed his heart. He gave a tiny smile.
"Today's events are no reason to sulk, let's celebrate and enjoy the success." W concluded and they all smiled eating sandwiches happily. As a matter of fact L thought that he could go for a 100cm sandwich after this.
...
"Everything's cool now?" Lighting asked cautiously, Renegade nodded, his cheeks dusted pink.
"I just don't like being seen as weak." he said, it was partly true. The main reason was something he preferred to be kept to himself for now at least.
The other three stared at each other for a minute until W spoke "My friend, non of us think of you as weak."
"Yeah Ren! Heck I don't think even the Justice League sees you as weak."
Superboy nodded, W continued, "You are the youngest technically speaking and yet you have already surpass us in almost every aspect."
"I'm kind of jealous dude, thinking a thousand contingency plans in seconds, getting head to head with the Dark Knight of Gotham, battling against every obstacle and leading the mission to a success. I'm telling ya, you are far from weak." Lighting said in admiration.
"You are not the strongest, or fastest, you don't even have powers, but still you…" S stopped for a bit looking the others wide eyes, and coughed awkwardly, "I mean you are not weak." He finished.
R stayed silent for a bit never had he thought that his teammates see him that way.
He smiled softly, "Thanks guys, you are the best."
The speedster joined "Thats what friends are for" he said, throwing an arm around R's shoulders.
'Friends... he could trust friends, right?' He thought.
...The Watchtower...
The Heroes were currently tending their wounds in the Watchtower's med bay. Flash had been pacing for a while now.
"That kid sure packs a punch." Green Lantern groan.
"We need a way to get to them, take them away from The Light whatever it is, we need to find a way to contact them again." Flash said still pacing.
"It won't be necessary… they'll get to us." Batman stated stopping the speedster.
"What do you mean 'get to us', how are you so sure about it." Flash said.
"I suspect Renegade is not fully intent on following his masters orders only. All his actions till now have set me to believe that he may have an ulterior motive, as for he needs us." The member's present were astouned at the vigiliant's deduction.
The dark knight turned to the computer, "He will make sure there´s some sort of contact, I will be waiting for the slightest signal."
Green Arrow exhaled softly, tension leaving his body, "Certainly, everything he's done till know may seem like a coincidence but they contradict in many ways. I doubt The Light is aware of it. He may be also scheming something else, but how are we sure its on the right side of justice?"
There were still many disagreements on whether to trust the boys but for the time being they would cooperate if it meant getting to the end of this.
A week after...
"Justice League, plants have appeared all around the globe, Gotham, Metropolis, Star city, Taipei. I request immediate League assistance." Captain Atom called.
Every hero present at the Watchtower got up and headed to one of the four points mentioned without delay. Batman soon headed to the main hall typing on the holo-keyboard and displaying a globe in the middle.
Flash went by his side seeing the dark knight not leaving with the others, "Bats,do you think-"
Batman frowned, "Four plants attacking various points simultaneously, there must be a central control system. Zatara can you locate the source?" He called. Zatara stood out of the zeta tube and nodded chanting reversed words until a red dot appeared in the globe.
"That must be the source, it would be the best to head to the center of it all." Zatara concluded.
"Bayou Bartolomeo, Louisianna, is this another scheme of the so called Light?" Flash asked a bit exasperated.
Batman turned to the screen as static filled it. "I can't get it back up, something is blocking the signal."
The Joker appeared his grin wide as ever.. he knocked on the camera and then announced "Hello ladies and gentlemen, we interrupt your regular schedule program to bring you some rather tasty announcement, from the IN-JUSTICE LEAGUE."
Seven supervillians stood at the back, Atomic Skull, Black Adam, Joker, Poison Ivy, Ultra-Humanite, Wotan and in the middle Count Vertigo. He stood in front. "We are responsible for the attacks on your cities, if you wish to save them a ransom of 10 billion American dollars is to delivered. The instruction have been sent to the United Nations, there is no time limit but the longer you take the longer we get to destroy." He laughed maniacally.
The connection ended then leaving, the remaining heroes, Batman, Flash, Zatara, Green Lantern, Aquaman, Superman and Black Canary glaring at the screen, "Take that as your answer."
Batman turned, "Lets go." he said as the last group of heores headed to the location.
...The Base...
"It seems the Injustice League got their hands on some of our valuable compounds and decided to use them on plants... How they were tipped off about the compounds or the warehouse's locations is still unknown but we are investigating. You will head to the nucleus and end this." Vandal Savage growled last they wanted was to alert the world of their secret schemes and scientific advances.
"Umm.. sir?" L asked raising his hand timidly, directing the attention to himself. "If I am correct the Injustice League has seven super-powered members…"
"Are you saying you cannot handle it, Project Lighting?" Queen Bee said glaring at the teen.
"I believe what Lightning tried to say, is as they are reunited, The League must also know about them and would be dealing with them accordingly." W added.
"You are created for the sole purpose of serving us, no other reason is necessary for your existence. Don´t ever oppose or question an order." Queen Bee said coldly.
"You are departing in an hour, gear up." Lex announced and the six screens light off. As soon as it happened the four teens relaxed, L turned to Renegade suddenly.
"R! Don´t you think this is crazy?!" L said throwing his hands in the air.
R turned around lazily and smiled slightly "Are you saying we can't handle it? Please, we've got Supey here (at which Superboy nodded proudly), Water is a master fighter he can deal with even three superpowers enemies at a time-"
At which the atlantean added. "I am not sure if I could handle that much but I will try not to fail any of you or The Light".
R nodded, he turned to the speedster again, he grinned, "Didn´t you say you were the fastest speedster? You can run circles around them in less than a second, and I can coordinate an attack to have the less interference possible, Chill dude." R said the last two words copying L´s tone in a mocking manner, at which L huffed. R, S and W walked to the room hall, leaving the speedster following behind.
'R couldn´t fool him, he knew something was off.'
"Well it may be true…Are you sure? Its a crazy mission almost a perfect setup to failure¨ R turned to him staring bemused, ¨and don't give me that look Ren. You know fully well we have limits." The speedster pushed.
R sighed, "You worry to much L, gear up." He called waving a hand without turning to face his teammate again.
"Ugh, I don´t like this. If anything goes wrong I called it!"
...Bayou Bartolomeo...
It wasn't long for their jet to nearly crash as Water lost control of it when a nauseous wave hit them.
The jet had landed in the pond and started sinking, they got out to land and recovered from the nausea as they surveyed the place.
"Were they expecting us?" L said rubbing his head.
"I jammed every signal and alerts possible, we should have been able to pass unnoticed." R informed.
"Well if we think about it, they count on somebody coming after them." Superboy supplied.
"Yes, they must have been prepared for an enemy." W concluded but still eyed his leader suspiciously, though the other didn't notice as he surveyed the area.
...
They felt another wave sending them to the ground, Count Vertigo was standing in front, "I see... So you are the weapons, I see your masters found something missing. It was not our idea, however as it was more of an anonymous gift-"
"- Count Vertigo. It wouldn't be wise getting on the Light´s bad side." R interrupted as he stood up. The four boys had gotten in fighting stance and prepared for battle.
"I think it is quite late for that." The villain finished, he was soon joined by two more.
Ultra hummanite and black atom blocked the krypotian who tried to launch at Count Vertigo.
"R get the mission done." The clone growled through gritted teeth as he trapped Ultra-humannite in a martial key. The youngest nodded, Lighting following. W used his water-bearers and channeled the water form the nearby pond directing it to Count Vertigo and Black Atom.
R and W ran threw the jungle. "We need to get there." R said and pointed to the large glowing meta-plant on top of a Cristal dome.
"Wow, so that's what you can do with the Kobra Venom." L muttered, R grimaced.
...
The two teens did not last long on their way as as vines rose from the muddy ground trapping them as well as S and W. Ivy stood proudly gathering the four boys. They started writhing trying to get themselves free from the vine's hold, but the plants didn't even budge and even tighten a bit more.
They had hoped to get the job done before the Leagues interference, of course things wouldn't go as planned.
"AGH I KNEW THIS WAS A BAD IDEA, I KNEW IT ALL ALONG!" L screamed trying to free himself from the giant plants that had trapped him.
"Oh do not even try, even Superboy over there will have some hard time getting out." Ivy grinned.
"The babies thought they were the baddest of the baddest? BOO-HOO" Joker appeared, still moving his hands while he controlled the other plants attacking the cities.
"Joker." R muttered.
The clown heard him and turned to look at the boy. "Hey boy! You do remember me of a certain broody bat from Gotham, one I´ve been wanting to carve ever since. Are you two related? Well that doesn't matter, I'll carve you wings too." He laughed maniacally.
Ivy had her hand on her hips, starring at the four trapped teens infront. "You boys are just so handsome, I would love to crush you right now." She said seductively.
"Oh, maybe I should start right away." She said ordering her plants to tighten their hold and so they did, earning groans and gasps from the four.
"S ca- can you." R could not finish before the plants around him tighten too much, until could not breathe.
"Ah ah ah, little leader, you are not giving orders this time, so boys just stay still and wait for your end." Ivy smiled evily.
The vine had tighten too much around the boy, ignoring the protest from the others, R's body went limp… "STOP! you'll kill hi-AH." L tried earning the same treatment.
"Human or meta you can always die my boy." Count Vertigo added. Ivy released her hold of R a bit though.
Superboy gave a feral scream and managed to rip the vine apart and free himself, not wasting any time and launching for the nearest villain, Black Atom. Throwing the villain to poison ivy she had not seen it coming and therefore was crashed under the others weight, loosing focus on the vines and dropping the other three.
W soon dropped and launched to Count Vertigo surpassing the nauseous wave and managing to punch him hard on the face. L dropped and got himself in between the youngest who had fallen unconscious in the muddy floor and the joker who had readied two knifes.
"Oh you are no fun speedster, LET. ME. KILL. YOUR. LITTLE. FRIEND." He said trying to cut the speedster in between every word and laughing maniacally as he did so.
R gave a tiny groan and started moving trying to sit up, seeing this his teammates smiled relieved and fought with even more strength. Lighting was by his side in less than a second. "Dude you ok?" He asked
His leader coughed and glared at the plant. "I-I'm fine -need to destroy that thing." He said and stood up.
"Wait I'm going with-" Lighting tried and stopped just in time to dodge a knife from the clown. He quickly launched forward and kicked the joker in the face making him land in the mud. Turning around he saw his leader nowhere in sight.
"Oh dude." the speedster said and began to back away as Ivy along with the Joker sourrounded him, he stopped as he felt his back hit something, it was Water who was knowing painting heavily, as Count Vertigo and Black Atom made their way to them, it wasn't long as Superbly crashed by their side having received a blast from Wotan.
"We are missing one." Count Vertigo growled.
"MY BABY!" Ivy screamed. Everybody turned to face the main plant just in time it exploded heavily.
R stood there, his hands folded in front.
"Timber" he muttered satisfactorily.
Ivy stared for a moment and went on rampage creating vines and trying to smash the teens.
.
.
.
"Children ruined our plan?!" Joker screamed hysterically and took out a gun, the unfolded scene was of war between two villain groups.
Water against Wotan, Superboy against Ultra-Hummanite, Lighting against Black Atom and Atomic Skull who had gotten out of the base and started fighting.
Renegade dealing with Poison Ivy and Count Vertigo did not see it coming, neither did his other busy teammates.
The clown aimed grinning widely and..
BANG!