FOUR BOYS: The Path We Seek
Chapter 9: The Boys
"Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a harder battle."
...Mount Justice...
After some time, R woke up with a groan, sleeping in the floor was not comfortable but the rest was much needed, he looked at the others S and W were still asleep.
The voice at the other end of the cell caught his attention as he began to sit up. "Renegade. You knew this was going to happen right?" L said as he sat resting against the cage's bars, R looked at him for a while.
"You knew it too." The youngest huffed.
"No." The speedster frowned, "I assumed it would happened because it was a crazy mission. But you 'knew it', you knew the League was gonna be there, but didn't object the mission. You 'guess' they have a batch of Kobra Venom? For the love of... You don't guess anything you either know they have one or you wanted them to bring us here. What else are you keeping away from us R? Is this part of the Light's next secret order to you or something?" R flinched at his friend´s angry tone.
"The mission was complete, 'Stopping the Injustice League'. So why? Why are we here and don´t even dare to say, there was no other option."
R brought his knees to his chest and rested his head on them.
At the lack of response the speedster grew even more agitated, "How do you plan us getting out of this. They will want us back, Ren." Lighting said.
"We are not needed at the moment." R muttered, he turned to look at the ginger, smiling but eyes dull, "We are just weapons of the Light, L or have you forgotten. They don't care about us as long as their objectives are met. As they were. By this time they must already know what has happened, still I haven't gotten anything." his hold around his knees tighten, "Which means we are not needed at the moment or their will be an order to engage soon."
S and W were already awake and sat up, listening to the word exchange of the two boys. L fell into angered silence and looked at the cage's ceiling. He then drapped his arm to cover his eyes and gave a bitter laugh. "The same as always. Dispossables."
R looked at the speedster and pursued his lips, 'Dispossable' Why would he say that…' Renegade's eyes widened… 'Did L remember his life... before CADMUS? It can't be.'
...
W looked in worry at the youngest member, he knew R carried much more than what The Light had asked him to do. Before he could say anything though Batman entered the chamber.
"You will be taken separately for individual interrogations, I expect you to cooperate." He announced.
'This cannot get any worse.' R thought, glaring at the hero.
"They seem upset with one another." Black Canary commented, as she watched the boy's in the cage not talking to each other after the slight disagreement.
"I don't think they agree with their leader's action." Aquaman added.
"They shouldn't even be facing this." Flash said.
...
The interrogation room was ready. When the approval was given Flash went to get one of the boys.
"So whose first?" Flash asked awkwardly, seeing the boys in the cage looking defeated and upset made him feel somehow responsible for everything they've been threw, even before they met.
L looked at the others, R kept his head down and his knees close to his chest, W seemed somehow immersed in thought as he looked at R, and S just glared at the senior speedster. L sighed and stood up with difficulty thanks to his bounded hands, catching everyone's attention. "Guess, it'll have to be me." He said, stretching up.
Flash nodded and left with L to the interrogation room, he entered a white room not too big, but not too small either, with a two metal chairs at each side of a metal table. Flash guided him to the one farther from the door, as soon as sat down a metallic ring appeared going around his stomach making him unable to stand or move too much.
He stared at the older speedster and said, "Really? Isn't it enough having this things." He showed his shackled wrists with the glowing red button at the center.
"Its just protocol at much, don't worry. I'll be back for you later." Flash said and turned to leave.
"Back? WAIT! aren't you the one who's gonna make the questions?!" L asked, an uneasy feeling making its way to his stomach. That feeling intensified as he saw The Batman interring the room.
"No, I will be the one. Let begin." He said darkly, as the door closed, L gulped.
...
"What is your name?" The bat began
"Lightning." He said automatically.
"I meant your 'real' name." the bat pushed
"Wouldn't you want to know." The speedster said with a cheeky grin, though it fell rapidly.
At the other side of the glass Black Canary stood watching each and every gesture the boy made. She frowned looking at the slight uncertainty.
"What is the Light?"
"R told you already, they are our masters."
"What is their purpose?"
L sighed a bit exasperated, "Look Bats… I don't know, we don't know, heck, I think not even R knows. We just follow orders we are….." The speedster stopped and finally came to realization what R had meant, "we are just weapons."
Batman seemed to get the inner debate in which the young speedster was in, he sighed quietly.
"Who were you before CADMUS?" Batman asked.
"….nobody." the speedster half whispered as he directed his view to the table.
"You are a human being you-"
"Its more like I was 'a nobody' before, and know-" his hands turned into fists as he rose his head a bit looking at the dark knight, "and know it seems I'm nothing."
Flash stood at the other side of the glass alongside Black Canary, the heroine had her arms folded. She turned to Flash and said. "It is most probable that he has had a hard life maybe even before he was taken to CADMUS though before it also led me to believe they have no recollection of their past."
Flash looked at her in surprise and then turned his sight to the glass, watching the boy, he then became angry 'Even before he went through hell in CADMUS he was already probably living one?!'
"This is not fair." He muttered darkly, Black Canary turned to look at him and was surprised as she had never seen Flash act so serious or look so pissed of as that moment.
"Lightning, did you know about Luke Evans, Josh Daniels, Peter Bark, and Gerald Woods being assassinated some weeks ago?" Batman asked expecting whichever excuse or him playing innocent, but what he got was a lazy smirk forming in the speedsters lips.
"As I said before Bats, we follow orders. Thats the first thing Pete taught me." He said still grinning.
"So you are ok with killing people." Batman said frowning.
"I'm comfortable with that, though I would prefer not too, I like fun missions, not bloody angst stuff." L said.
The bat nodded and turned out to leave surprising the bound speedster.
"Is that it? Don't you want to know everything? Aren't you gonna use some detective tactic or mind controlling thing?! What about the bad cop act? A magic spell? Anyhow we've been through everything you know. I´m telling you, you won't get any information out of us." The speedster teased.
The bat looked at the bound kid over his shoulder.
"Lightning, we are not CADMUS or your so called 'Masters', even if you don´t believe it, we are here to help."
The green eyes widened slightly, his mouth set on a thin line, those last words lingering in his mind.
Flash entered not saying a word, freeing him from the chair and guiding him to the cage were the others still sat unmoving. As they walked neither said a word, L turned to look at the hero's face, he was confused as to why he had change from his extremely happy and carefree way to a stoic almost murderous being. He entered the cage looking bit uncertain and laid at the back. 'What's with them really…' He looked at R who now looked forward deep in thought. 'Maybe I should apologies.' The speedster pondered.
...
Flash called on to the next prisoner, "Water."
The atlantean nodded and guided him to the interrogation room. The same protocol was repeated, Aquaman joined Black Canary at the other side as Batman entered the room.
"Water." He addressed and the other nodded.
"You are more alert than L." Batman began.
"I am indeed cautious, even more when it's about my team." He said.
"R is the leader, am I right?" Batman pushed.
"He is..." He said hesitanting slighty.
Batman soon caught to it, eyes narrowing, "You don't agree"
Water swallowed, "In my opinion, Renegade is not mature enough to take everything on his own."
"You think you fit the role better?" The hero aked curiously.
"...Yes perhaps I am a better option."
Batman nodded thoughtfully.
"When was the team formed?"
"Not much time ago." Water frowned.
"If I am not mistaken you were in CADMUS for a long time, I assume you were kept in separate spaces until the day you were brought together to form a team." Batman concluded.
"…Yes, we were each taught differently to help us develope each individual skill."
...
At the other side Black Canary frowned, she looked at the cameras behind her where they could see the cage. R caught her attention, the boy still hadn't moved…. 'Water indeed seems better for leadership.'
Aquaman nodded, "I get what you are thinking Canary, a natural choice for team leader, calm, collected, cautious, firm but he lacks the most valuable asset of leadership." Black Canary looked at the king of the seas then back at the interrogation room.
...
"Do you doubt Renegade's leadership then?" Batman asked
The atlantean thought for a bit "Our master's orders are absolute, we don't have a say in the matter, R's skills and knowledge surpass us, but I do wish the burden wouldn't have fallen to the youngest, I am the oldest therefore I-."
"Age does not fully determine maturity, and to our eyes, you are all too young to be doing this." Batman frowned.
Silence.
"About Dr. Woods I would guess you think you did the right thing" the hero began.
"It was justice." Water said without hesitation. Batman noted that indeed W may seem calm and collected but he lacked empathy, compassion or even forgiveness for others.
"Killing is never a choice, even though it was an order, seeing it as justice-"
"Is natural for us. We are weapons created by CADMUS to serve The Light." The atlantean said, eyes narrowing slightly.
"I doubt R, L or S will accept that fate much longer."
The Dark knight began standing up, "Water, being a leader means much more than what you think it does, for starters, being brave enough to decide your path." he finished before turning to leave.
"What? What do you mean?" he said confused but the hero offered no response as he left.
On his way out he caught the calculating eyes of Aquaman. Seeing the king's imposing figure and serious expression W could only feel respect and slight discomfort ...
'R follows orders, but he also seeks the best outcome for everybody.' Water glared at the floor as he was walking to the cells, 'I realize just how much we've been burdening him with all the doubts and protests.'
Perhaps Batman was right, he lacked something fundamental to become the leader but he would strive for the position if that meant helping R accomplish the mission that he was sure would benefit them.
He had found a new admiration for his teammate and a drive not from revenge or numbness but rather hope. He would believe in his friends to the very end.