FOUR BOYS: The Path We Seek
Chapter 13: The Archers
"Today's opponents can be your allies tomorrow. And today's allies can be tomorrow's opponents."
...Mount Justice...
Lightning tossed and turned whimpering before once again settling down.
The Justice League had taken them to the living chambers and got a shared room ready for them to rest as the heroes worked on getting a new possible lead.
'Shouting? What's wrong?'
"DNA Project, Code05"
.
An alarm blared.
.
"Subject DR05 is out, request immediate assistance!"
"He's out!"
"-ready to engage if necesarry!"
.
'Blue eyes stared at him curiously, through a glass. The raven haired looked sad, but why?
"I'm sorry-"
'Why was he sorry?'
"Wallace West."
'huh?'
L felt pain, he groaned, he couldn't move.
The raven, he looked above his shoulder and flinched frowning at the door waiting for something.
'DON'T LEAVE ME!' L wanted to scream but he couldn't, he was trapped.
"One day we would surely be free." L wanted to cry hearing that statement.
.
"Subject DR05 -freeze!"
"Drop your stance and go back to your pod-"
L then heard shouts, gunshots, crashs, shocks of electricity, a scream in pain, a several guards apprenhending the boy that had payed him a visit.'
.
L bolted upward breathing heavily, sweat running down his face, the same dream he had ever so often.
L rubbed his head tiredly having been woken up by that strange dream- or more like a nightmare. He mumbled, "I'm not here alone at least." he sighed, "Way to be selfish."
"Lightning?" S grumbled from the bed at the other side of the room.
The ginger gave a nervous laugh as he rubbed the back of his neck before flopping down on his bed staring at the ceiling. "Sorry Supey, I just can't seem to rest, I still can't believe they left without us. We don't even know if they are ok." the ginger continued in a quiet tone.
"I know, just try to rest, for Water's and Renegade's sake. We are no good if we are tired." S said without turning to look at the speedster.
Lightning turned his head looking at the back of his teammate, he chuckled remembering the advice of the hero kryptonian now being used by his friend. He knew S had his pride but he also secretly admired Superman, deciding not to tease the clone with that he tried to sleep again.
'Strange dream, it was a bit more detailed than the other times, who was that kid, had he run away from home too?
'Beautiful blue eyes sparkly and deep just like Ren. Much like Ren's -' Was the last thought he remembered before drifting into sleep.
"Renegade!-" He shouted green eyes opening suddenly getting up in a bit. 'How could he forget? Wallace West, was that him?... Then what was R doing there at that moment...'
Superboy jumped at the sudden movement, he turned around to reprimand the other but L stood determingly looking at the door.
"S, I I thin-think I got something. I need to contact Batman."
He ran to the door, and found it locked as he suspected.
"We need to get their attention." L said.
S cracked his knuckles, "I can do that." He said confidently ushering his teammate away from the door.
️ ️ ️...The Light´s Base... ️ ️
Ren's POV
All he was aware of after waking up, was having his wrists shackled to a dangling chain in the middle of the small dark room. Renegade's feet barely touched the floor from the position he was, it was rather painful having been there for mostly three hours in his condition. His fast healing had return at least as he felt the tingling sensation running through his body.
He then heard footsteps approach from the other side of the door and grimaced.
The man entered dressed in a black cloak, a mask and a whip in his gloved hands.
"Proyect Renegade, your loyalty to the Light will now be tested, Let's begin shall we?" An evil grin extended in the man's face as he gripped the whip
CRACK!
Blue eyes widened, teeth clenched tightly.
"You are DNA Project Renegade, you serve the masters, The Light alone."
The boy nodded shakily.
"What is the Justice League?"
"Enemies of The Light, who seek to hinder the process of human evolution."
The man narrowed his eyes.
"And you? What are you?"
"We are weapons, we live to follow the the master's orders."
"Correct." The man said, R closed his eyes tightly. His mind was foggy snips of memories floating everywhere, confusing him…But then, he could remember only one thing a phrase a promise.
'Please trust me.' He opened his eyes, "Water..."
CRACK
"Focus. I'll tell you this, kid. You will not have space to fool around with your new leader. Water is now in process of becoming the perfect weapon and greatest adversary of the Justice League. He will not stop until everything is set to the Light's desires." He said sending shivers through Renegade's body.
...
Water's POV
'Fire… my body is in fire. I have lost count of the many times I've lost consciousness ever since. Focus Water.'
"PROJECT WATER, YOU SERVE THE LIGHT."
"YOU ARE PROJECT WATER, A WEAPON CREATED TO DESTROY AQUAMAN AND TAKE ATLANTIS."
"PERFECT"
"WEAPON"
"RULE OF THE LIGHT"
'Renegade… Lightning… Superboy.'
/
Ren
The man in dark mask, his 'caretaker' 'torturer' how ever you want to call him, had left a while ago, being dismissed by Ra's Al Ghul that now stared at the tired boy who laid shaking in the center of the room.
"Renegade, it's been about 2 hours now and you have answered all the questions proving to be loyal."
"Yes Master I serve only the Light-"
"I have deactivated the cameras boy." The man stated.
He kept silent.
Ra smirked slightly "As I said you have proven yourself loyal during the past two missions and during your stay here, but I do have some questions of my own."
At the boy's dismissive attitude he continued, "I've been absent due to having a special visit back in my home. You see, one of the members of the Justice League invaded my home to look for some answers regarding the Lazarus Pit and a certain raven haired, blue eyed kid."
R eyes widened imperceptively. 'How- his DNA- must have been when he was unconscious in the medbay. Ooops, Wait a Leaguer... Could it be?'
"The Batman is looking for answers and it seems he knows more information than what the Light would like or expect to have given."
R smiled slyly, "He is after all a great detective, Master Ra's."
The comment amused the Demon Head even more. "I have also gotten a word in advance from one my confidents, that was an interrogation directed to one of our late associates." R looked at his master curiously, "a man by the name David Kane, he is currently under arrest and heavily guarded in Marylands prison, since 8 years ago. Now why would he receive an interrogation this late, do you know the reason why?"
A second or maybe 3 passed as R struggle to keep the surprise and fear that cursed within himself. 'Ra's knew too much'
Finally coughing lighty and saying "No clue."
"Let me enlighten you boy. David Kane was a common sealife researcher that opted to get into the field of genetics, he developed the atlantean substance used in Water, the operation was done secretly and without any trace left behind of the possible buyer. Which makes me believe somebody must have tipped the League off again even before Cadmus Labs got destroyed."
"Master-"
Ra's Al Ghul raised a hand in stopping manner, composed as ever, " I am not looking for an explanation boy, as you seem to have an appropiate answer to everythings that's been asked." R fought the frown. "Even though it will still be a lie." the man smirked at the other's expression, "Let me enlighten you further on my knowledge, Renegade."
Silence
"David Kane is Water's biological father."
R felt his heart thump.
"Suberboy's DNA comes from Superman's in fact but also a human component was needed therefore Luthor provided."
'Stop'
"Lightning, infact ran away from home in order to escape his abussive parents."
"They were save and live because of CADMUS, because of The Light. I wonder... When your teammate find out that the Justice League is keeping his father trapped in a heavily guarded prison undergoing constant interrogations how will he react. Or maybe Superboy will come to reason that part of his existence is thanks to one of our kind members. Then Lightning, it is clear he is better now than he was before... a shame they have conviniently forgotten of their pasts."
The man and the boy exchanged a glance, "or someone made them forget."
Flashback
R had managed once again to escape the living hell of a pod he had been kept for long. If what he had heard back then was correct, he could not afford the other's to remember their life before CADMUS.
W's Wing, he stood looking at the atlanean sleeping soundly at the other side of the pod. He sighed he needed to get this done fast as he started typing on the control panel. A bar started loading
W frowned as in pain. R sighed, he read the info on the display, 'Kaldur'ahm'
R then moved to L's Wing and stared at the ginger in the same condition.
L groaned as pain surged his body. "I'm sorry."
He repeated the process, staring at the info on the diplay panel. "Wallace West."
'There was no need for memories that would become a hindrance in his plan further on. They would need to forget, it would be the best option for everybody.'
Alarms blared once again, he clicked his teeth. "Way faster than last time."
"CODE DR05, Renegade has escaped. Move all possible units available and apprehend the weapon." The speakers sounded.
He turned once again at the ginger once again, "One day we would surely be free."
.
"There he is!"
"Grab him!"
"SUBJECT DR05 FREEZE!"
R glared as he was sorrounded.
"Drop your stance and go back to your pod-"
R screamed, there was no way he would go back there willingly.
.
That time he had killed 5 guards before he was aprehended and taken to the pod once again.
R had made a special promise to himself, one he would deliberately follow through even if death was its end.
End of Flashback
"Once they know their leader, their own friend blocked their memories in order to control them at his wish, how would they react. You'll be left alone soon, Renedage."
R was now in the verge of a panick attack. "Why?" He decided to finally say albeit in a small voice holding back the tremble. 'Why was Ra's telling him this. He knew eveything right, he knew he had blocked L's and W's memories in order for them not to think of The Light as their saviours. So why not tell the other members of the Light and end it all here. Why was he being threatened by the man? Was it to warn him, he doubted Ra's Al Ghul wanted to help him in any way.'
Ra's continued in amidst the boy's panic, "This is a mere temporary partnership if I may say, (referring to the Light) I have much more to do in the League of Shadows and as the demon head myself, I am sure you could become a much more valuable asset there than here with the Light..."
He turned to leave, "Therefore I don't really care if you destroy all this... But be sure, you will be taken by The League of Shadows once you do so."
Blue eyes widened starring in shock at the retreating figure of Ra's.
.
.
.
'Does true freedom actually exist?'
"Contingency 53"
...The Watchtower, Present...
"Have you gotten any clue, with R's files?" Flash asked as he stood beside the Dark Knight. "Canary managed to persuade them both to rest for a bit, she locked the door for precaution. I doubt they will stay there any longer though. They are worried for their friends even if they were at each others throats some time."
Flash laughed, "They are good kids."
"I don't doubt it." Batman answered shortly. "Renegades information had a lead pointing on a piece of nanotech called, "The Fog" and its creator, a scientist, Dr. Sterling Roquette who had coincidencially disappeared from her apartment in Star. Artemis and Red Arrow where sent on a mission to retrieve her as well as alerted us on the matter as the files did say that might be a target for the Light. They should be back by now."
Flash whistled, "That kid sure is something to fear."
Batman did not comment.
He then continued, "There is no direct available information about the 6 other members of Light."
Flash shook his head at the Dark Knight´s glance towards him, "They haven´t said anything about them either."
Batman nodded turning back to the monitor, "No mission details no names of associates, no information about the boys whatsoever, which makes me believe they communicate on a different level."
"You mean a psychic?"
"Possibly."
"There is also a single file regarding an incomplete research on nano-technology, magic and possible alien bio-organism, capable of enthralling any kind of host—human, alien, inorganic or magical. "
"...oh."
"We'll look further into that as soon as-"
INCOMING CALL MOUNT JUSTICE
Black Canary and Green Arrow appeared behind them a tied up Lightning and a scowling Superboy.
"What happened?" Batman said.
"Nothing mayor, it appears they were trying to access the computer to call you."
"What is it kid?" Flash said lightly hoping to evade a discussion regarding trust issues.
L stood up struggling, "I had a nightmare!"
Silence... his cheeks burned.
"Wait no! Well yes bu-but here me out, I never even dream, I think, it just feels like a memory its-its from the past, okay."
Now Batman narrowed his eyes, nodding for the young speedster to continue. "Could you check on a name: Wallace West. I'm sure Ren mentioned it once back then. I think it might be by name." Batman nodded as he started typing, L continued, "I'm not sure why Ren was there, but I know he was not supposed to be there. Out of a pod I mean." The heores expressions were grim at the mention of keeping the boys in giant testing pods.
Flash looked at the articles appearing on screen, "Wallace Rudolph West, 9 years old, ginger, green eyes." Everything was adding up to L profile. The ginger at the other side of the monitor screen smiled.
Batman frowned as the new articles kept appearing, "Dissapearance. Unclosed case. Abbussive parents. Run away. Star City. Never found."
The bat and the speedster exchanged a look.
"Batman, Flash." Black Canary reminded. Seeing as L and S were getting impatient.
"Good Job, L." Flash nodded.
Batman nodded imperceptibly, "We'll be there shortly."
Was what they could offer as they knew harsh truth was revealed.
/
After ending the call Batman turned to Flash, "Get in contact with Martian Manhunter."
"Oooh they won't like you digging there memories."
The Bat's eyes narrowed, "You have a better idea?"
Flash knew it was true. Even if he hated the idea himself, they needed to know who the Light was.
"They won't be able to stay still much longer."
"I know, I have other plans for them, I'm sure they won't oppose to waiting after hearing it. I need to head back to the cave and keep on investigating on the starro-tech and R´s files."
"Gotcha Bats." With that they prepare to depart form the Watchtower.
...Mount Justice...
After the call Black Canary thought that the boys would appreciate some bonding practice meanwhile they wait.
In such a short amount of time, she marveled at how had they develop a relationship of respect as equals even though technically they were enemies, rivals?... No that hadn't been their choice. She refused to mark them as such.
RED ARROW B08
Guest B07
As L and S heard the announcement Red Arrow and another person they did not recognize, both turned their attention to the zeta beam, posture ready to attack if necessary, Canary noted that in her head.
Green Arrow waved at the archers, one just ignored him, where as the olive-toned girl with thick blonde hair and dark grey eyes wearing a midriff-barring costume in various shades of green waved back casually.
Canary nodded "Red Arrow, Artemis, what a surprise. Haven't seen you in a while." she said in hope of letting the boys know it was ok.
Red Arrow nodded
Artmis smirked, "Hi Black Canary and oh hi, Superboy (adding a wink), aaannd... Carrot head" putting her weight in one leg as she popped her hip.
L frowned, "Uuuh and who are you? because we've memorize each and every important member and supporter on the League and I've never heard of you." He said accusingly crossing his arms. She frowned in return, as Superboy opted to ignore what she said.
Green Arrow intervened, "She is my niece and apprentice Artemis."
"I work alone, or help in the sides, I don't like working in teams and wouldn't be willing to if it weren't for the pay, which Batman promised me, why am I even explaining this to you?" She rambled
"...Hope you can get along seeing as you are of a similar age." Green Arrow smiled innocently sensing the tense atmosphere that had been developed between the teens.
Green Arrow stared at Black Canary seeking for help she sighed in return.
"As Artemis said she is not one of the League's members, but she constantly helps Green Arrow with cases in Star City."
Superboy suddenly growled.
"So you do train kids to fight, you are just like the Light, training us to do the dirty work?"
"No" Black Canary defended immediately, "you guys didn't have a choice, Artemis, Red Arrow and each and every member regarding their age chose this path. As you can choose your own."
Artemis on the other hand grinned casually "Don't worry Supey I'm an independent girl with the need to fight, I'm strong don't worry."
Superboy frowned totally oblivious on the attempts of flirting the blonde girl had given, "You are human."
She frowned as well, "Do you have any problem with that, I'm sure I could kick both of your butts in spare training." She taunted a bit angry and defensive after Superboy's comment. 'This is heading to the wrong direction. Roy and Artemis aren't the most friendly and good with teamwork'
L laughed loudly "Oh really now that's funny, do you even know who we are, What. We. Are?"
Artemis growled, "Oh I know enough to know who you think you are you selfish carrot head, prick, narcissistic,rude imb-"
'We are so doomed' Green Arrow thought lamely.
"Artemis enough." Black Canary said then looking at the boys she smiled daringly "let's find out who your are with a sparring match. You will face me one on one let's see what are you made of."
Superboy crossed his arms "No offense Black Canary, with my super-strength I don't need to prove anything."
L shrugged, "Not to be boasting but Supey's right we'll pretty much kick your ass like in the battle." He smirked.
Canary smirked as she took her jacket off, She couldn't ignore the need to teach the young meta-humans the correct ways, "Combat is about controlling conflict, putting the battle in your terms, you should always be acting, never reacting."
"With superpowers the battle is always on our terms. We are living weapons." Superboy grumbled.
L shrugged, "I guess I'll go first" he finally said stepping in the lighten field beneath them.
As soon as he did, L put on a fighting stance, not a second after, only his super-speed could have make him react in time to block a harsh punch, but not enough to stop the next, as a boot collided in the opposite side making him fall dead-on the platform, the status of fail being provided by the computer.
L groaned and stared at the ceiling, "...that hurt."
Canary smiled and offered her hand which he took easily. "Did any of you see what he did wrong?"
Artemis smiled devishly, "Maybe him being a what do you call yourselves 'a living weapon' cannot stop him from actually being a duffus."
L huffed as he rubbed his arm as he glared to the blonde archer.
"He allowed me to dictate the terms." Black Canary announced cutting off any surging discussion.
S rolled his eyes, letting out an exasperated "Oh Please." At which Canary turned and smiled "Your turn S." And as such S and Black Canary's match began. Soon followed by Artemis and Black same challenges were repeated as the three lost every round against the Heroine.
"Let's take a break" she said and went to talk to Green Arrow leaving the three panting teens scattered in the center of the field.
Red Arrow huffed, "Thought you'd actually beat her one on one this time?"
"Shut up Roy." Artemis let out a short laugh, "Guess we all got served. Though, Carrot-head, I didn't expect you to pull that offensive move on the last round, It got pretty close to a victory."
Superboy nodded as he sat up followed by the other two. "Didn't know that even with superpowers we could be so defenseless. I got to admit, this was pretty...cool."
L grinned and nodded, since they came here they had been taught many things, things that they would have never learn in CADMUS or in The Light, things that made them feel more human.
L stared at the blonde archer "My name is Lightning, but... Yeah thanks, I guess."
"I'm Superboy."
"Artemis."
"Red Arrow or Roy."
Perhaps putting them together wasn't such a bad idea.