FOUR BOYS: The Path We Seek
Chapter 15: Where Loyalty Lies
"Someone who cannot abandon everything cannot achieve anything."
_Happy Harbour Primary_
"I hear a helicopter approaching. Also something metalic cutting through the air." Superboy announced in the com unit.
Artemis took her bow and prepared an arrow, as did Red Arrow inside. "Be ready."
/
"CH-47F Chinook on pursuit of the Fog, current speed 300km/h." The helicopter pilot announced, at his side Cheshire hummed smugly, "It appears its taking us to Happy Harbor. A school of some sort."
W and R sat back at the cabin, each on one side. Water tested his weapon. R not wanting to engage in conversation or even look at his comrade decided to clean his firearm.
They would be landing shortly seeing as the nanotech descended even faster in the last 5 minutes. R couldn't help but feel nervous, not for the mission itself but. After what happened to Water he wouldn't want anyone engaging with the current leader. He was also so worried for L and S as he didn't favor leaving his teammates with the League, even if they had proved helpful in the past, but he preferred that, than them being with the Light and changing as Water did. Hopefully they would know better and keep their distance for a while.
'The League wouldn't send some potentially dangerous teens out on such an important mission as this, right?'
R sighed softly, he packed a pistol just in case. Cheshire who sat in the copilot seat looked behind at Renegade.
"So tell me Renegade, aren't you worried what The League may be doing to your teammates. It was your fault they got caught after all."
A shift, click of a gun. "None. They are capable of handling themselves." He answered shortly.
"Jmmmm short-fused aren't we. Don't worry, I'm sure you'll be together again soon." She smiled as she stood up grabbing onto the wire, Water followed suit, R rose up setting the firearm at his back.
The three jumped, landing in front of the school yard.
Water rose steadily, "Move. We first retrieve the fog-"
Chesire was already moving ahead, "Sorry atlantean, I'll take my way. While i'm working with you at the moment, I don't need to follow your commands. After all I'm only being paid to retrieve the tech while you handle the dirty work." She said cheekily and disappeared behind the bleachers.
"-Noted." Water said bemused. True. Cheshire was hired to actually get the vault with the fog in it, safely to the League of Shadows.
...
W and R approached the entrance stopping when they saw a blonde archer aiming at the two.
"So you must be the infamous Water and Renegade." She said casually.
R stared, W launched at her fast, she yelped and with easy launched an arrow at the atlantean, which he had to dogde.
"You can't be thinking you can actually win against us-" R said.
BAM! The explosion of said launched arrow as it landed on the field made both 'enemies' look back.
The archer winked and got into a battle stance. As did W and R. "So tell me, the Light had a budget cut? Are you two the only ones who came?"
Water growled, "We are the only ones needed to complete this mission. Although I would like to know where do you have my missing comrades."
R looked at the archer in hopes of hearing what he wanted. She did not answer though as she saw another person running by her periferal.
"No." She touched her ear, "Supey incoming towards you."
R eyes widened, did she mean Superman or Superboy?
Water turned to him, "Renegade there is no time to waste. Be sure Chesire collects the fog and end this mission." W said preparing and opening for R. The raven haired nodded as he ran past by, ignoring the 'Hey' from the archer.
/
R ran through the fields getting to the facilities. Before opening the main door he stopped suddenly sensing something, backing away by flipping backwards rapidly he managed to avoid the strike of somebody crashing down from the roof.
"S..." he whispered, he couldn't control the surge of fear as he saw his teammate.
He stood un movingly looking at S, if he was here, L was here too which complicated things much more.
Cheshire fell behind him, they fought before S managed to grab her ankle and threw her out to R's side.
"R." S said as he blocked the entrance.
R gulped inaudibly thinking on the best course of action. "Move, we came here as an order from the Light to retrieve the Fog..."
Superboy raised an eyebrow, "Oh that's it?"
R began walking towards S, "...We were ordered to kill her once we obtain what we came for."
Cheshire groaned as she laid there.
...
R looked at Superboy pissed whatsoever. "What are you doing here, where is L?!" He hissed.
The clone frowned, "Batman let us come to this mission to guard 'the scientist'. But we wanted to see you two, more so what happened to you back then? you went crazy even on us."
R gritted his teeth, "...I don't know, I felt like I was standing in a murky black space. I couldn't control myself, I aslo felt nothing... But thats not important right now-"
"It is R." S interjected. "It is."
R clenched his fists, "Stop worrying about me already, don´t you get it! It more trouble than its worth it."
"Ren..."
"I'm sorry to interrupt you boys but I'm tired of waiting, didn't know your team would be here R and against The Light 's orders for the matter. Very interesting iiindeeed." She stood up gracefully fixing her mask, "I don't care though so would you make the way, I need to get to my target. Renegade would you please." Cheshire interrupted.
R nodded slowly. He threw a smoke bomb and launched himself towards and unbelieving S. Cheshire went off ahead. He easily dodged the blinded punches the clone gave. S growled, "You left with Water, we didn't know if you to were going to be ok, you didn't contact us back, now you say you two are on a mission-"
The kick from the raven came a bit by surprise making S stumble back.
"Renegade." S growled.
"Look S." R began a bit softly. "all I know is that the Light has a substance that will turn us into their perfect weapons, merciless, unemotional, un- unhuman." R dared not look to the astouned clone as he continued, "they've given 'it' to Water- He said he wanted to be the leader, our masters decided a fight would determine it. I was in no condition to fight at that time...I lost."
S stared in disbelief "You lost. Really?" S frowned, "You've sparred many times against us R you've never lost."
"Till now" R defended. "and he paid the price for it... Look, Water is not himself, well who he was, I can't go against his orders either- you don't understand. Just please get yourself and Lightning out of here. Now"
He said desperately between almost lethal punches, S dodged. "Still acting like the leader. Leaving us in the dark. Would you stop this-" S said bemused.
R sighed heavily. He couldn't blame S and L for their actions but they needed to leave.
"Superboy please take Lightning and get out of here, if Water finds out you are helping the League he will take it as betrayal and disclose it to the Light, I don't want or need you two to become some mindless machines for them as well."
"Mindless machine, I suppose that hurts Renegade." the deep voice cut through the battle sending shivers to R's spine, S managed to punch the boy back. R falling to the ground.
Water stood tall and looked at Superboy in anger and betrayal. "I would hope I had been incorrect." He stared at Superboy as he drew his weapons, "but I suppose the reason to blame is your unfinished process. Once we end this mission you will return to our masters. You will all be free from any pain, any emotion any hinderring feeling and at last be complete. Thus you shall be able to see The Light as well."
S anger had turned form R to W, "So that time, when you said all of that 'wanting to take the burden of off Ren's shoulder' it was just bullshit? You just wanted to be leader then?"
R eyes widened slighty, 'When had they talked about that?'
Water smiled with his mouth but not with his eyes, "I was always the most natural choice after all."
"You traitor!" the clone growled.
"Superboy." R said reminding the clone that Water was not himself.
"Aren't you the ones betraying our masters?" Water said stancing once again, S prepared to attack back. R wanted to intervene, this could easily get out of hand.
The shout from his leader commanded him otherwise. "Renegade, complete the mission. We will see to the his scheme of S, L and yours once we reach our objective."
Renegaded nodded sourly as he felt the shiver he'd been feeling at hearing his leader's orders. Clenching his teeth he turned to Superboy one last time and headed inside.
...
As soon as R the heard the sounds of battle inside the building he trace them into the compute lab. As soon as he entered he crossed gazes with the speedster, "Ren! You are okay! Dude what is happening?" L said as he stood in front of the scientist shielding her and behind Red Arrow who pointed an arrow to Cheshire.
"Oh baby don't be such a stiff we haven't met for a while." Cheshire said to the red archer.
"We both know this is not what you want Cheshire-"
"Isn't it? Well, its what I am being paid to do though. I'm sorry."
"Wait Red, Ren, guys would you stop pointing weapons at each other." L said.
R stressed, "I won't say it again. We came for the weapon and..." he watched the scared scientist. "an additional request."
Cheshire nodded once, R quickly took the smoke bomb. The scientist screamed, Red Arrow fired, he hit nothing as Cheshire had moved in a bit and held the vault to her chest. "I'll be leaving now." She announced. She whispered something else to R which the other nodded before he kicked the desktop off the table.
Red Arrow ran out of the room following the assassin, leaving L and R alone with the cowering scientist.
He took the gun out.
"Woah R wha-what are you doing." L said as he held his arms on a pacifying manner.
"L back away." R said aiming to the scientist who covered her head.
L shielded her "You are the one who needs to back away, buddy. What will come from this."
"I was ordered to." He gritted out, and L found himself partly understanding and partly conflicted at the thought.
CRASH
The window broke with the impact from outside, the wall broke and Superboy came in falling over the desks looking worse for wear. His uniform was torn and he was dirty and panting.
He growled as he tried to stand up. Water walked calmly inside the gaping hole in the wall.
"Water!" L said enthusiastic but then assessed what was happening.
"Water." R echoed a bit hesitant.
"Renegade report."
"-The weapon has been attained and is currently on retrieve by Cheshire, Red Arrow followed her but I see no problem whatsoever, as instructed I am here to finish my mission. "
"What is going one why are you talking as if you are the leader Water?" L said.
The atlantean smirked, "Because in fact I am, I won the title and have completed the final phase on becoming what I was meant to be. What we are meant to be."
Their new leader turned to the youngest, "Renegade complete the last action. We are needed back." R could only fear for the reason as to why they were needed... the dose for him should be ready.
"Superboy and Lightning, we will come back to retrieve you." Water stood in rest seeing as the clone had not gotten up still.
R aim swiftly shifted to the scientist who gasped, L once again got in between sensing what was happening.
"L move."
"R stop this. What happened to-"
"L" he repeated a bit more desperately. 'This is wrong this is so wrong please let is all be finish.' R thought.
"No, don't 'L' me what are you doing! This is not what you want right!? We can be better. Stop this now."
"Shoot." W ordered coldly staring at the uncooperative speedster.
"L move now!"
"Renegade I said shoot."
R gave a pained expression
L eyes widened
"NOW!" Water shouted angrily.
BANG*
...
A scream, an angered shout, a groan, a gasp, after having closed his eyes for a second, R opened his eyes fearfully, deep blue suddenly starring at wide green ones. Before the other plummet to the floor.
R hand shook he couldn't breathe, 'why, just why-' a shout trapped in his vocal cords.
"Finish her." Water commanded as he began retrieving .
BANG*
R shot again feeling numb, her scream did not reach him as his view had never left the speedster's body.
Before he knew it, Water and him were both running, headed to the helicopter, the driver was nowhere to be seen, but that didn't stop W. He sat on the pilot seat. R looked back as a furious S ran toward them.
"RENEGADE! WATER" he screamed his voice full of hatred. He seemed to have thrown something at them, R catched it swiftly hoping it to be what he thought. He placed it inside his belt.
He fell to his knees as the helicopter lifted high suddenly, but the truth was he couldn't stop shaking, not after everything that had happened, not after what he had done.
'What have I done.' L's shocked and painfully filled emerald eyes, Superboy's hateful shout, Waters achieving yet dull smile, the scientist's fearfull stare before she plummet dead.
"What have I done."
._._._._._._.
As they flew away the silence had remained, at least the mission was completed, but he couldn't care less about it. Not after what had happened.
"Renegade." at his leader's call, he turned to look ahead. The atlantean kept his eyes ahead as he drove the helicopter.
Water continued, his voice low and leveled, "Superboy and Lightning have betrayed the Light, therefore I won't hold back as a leader, I will report to the masters once we get back." Water's voice from the pilot seat cut through his haze.
R gulped sensing the other was not finished, "As for you, I am well aware that your loyalty does not lie with the League, but I've got reasons to believe it does not lie with the Light either."
"On that accord, you will be dealt accordingly once we reach the base."
'R couldn't seem to catch air, he stared at his knees and fisted his palms in order to calm the surging panic attack'
"Once you all become a complete weapon you will understand the greatness of our masters and would dare not to disobey again."
'He couldn't breathe.'
_Happy Harbour Primary_
Red Arrow returned to the school panting, Cheshire had gotten away. As soon as he walked towards the field the familiar mop of blond hair shocked him as he ran.
"Artemis!" He called as he kneeled and grabbed her head. She was marred in bruises and cuts, she seemed unconscious but otherwise fine. He carried her inside where his knees got even weaker.
'What the hell were these guys.'
He soon called any available member of the League.
Dr Serling laid in a pile of blood, eyes dull and unmoving. S helped L seat down and kept pressure on the speedster's right side.
._._._._._
They had manage to get 2 hours of flight, almost getting towards Bludhaven. Water had stayed quiet flying towards their base and R kept his head on his knees.
'This was it, as soon as they were back, the Last Substance would be ready to be administer in his bloodstream, he would forget ever wanting to be free, he would forget his close friendship with L, Superboy's odd but funny manners, Water's once warm smiles, the Leagues support and Batman's trust... everything would be meaningless'
'Why did he even believe he could afford to reach freedom-' "You are not alone, Renegade, count on us." Batman's voice cut through his mind.
He gasp, his glassy blue eyes stared at his belt, the red beeping com-unit which had to be what S threw inside.
'I can't afford not to fight.' he stood up slowly, 'For L, for S and for W.'
Hopefulness then turned into determination.
Water checked on the panel of the helicopter, the deep sea below. Looking forward his mind processed a figure standing behind him in the glass reflection before he felt an electric shock run though his body.
He screamed painfully. "So this is your decision?" He said through gritted teeth.
"This is what we all chose, remember." R said as he backed away and stanced.
Water wasted no time in setting the machine on autopilot. The fight began in such an enclosed space as punches and kicks that somehow favored the smaller one.
A particular hard punch sent Water flying to the door opening it in the process, the helicopter shook making them fight for balance.
It was now or never, R threw an explosive bomb toward his teamate, the other fell backwards, however the atlantean grabbed onto the raven as both slid to the side. R barely managing to grab on the side of the door supporting hi and Waters weight as the other hanged by the boy's ankle.
Renegade groaned painfully at the hard hold on his ankle he could not keep for much longer, and they were nearing land. He had to do it now.
"Wa-water let go!"
Nothing but an anger shout was his answer. His atlantean leader would surely survive the fall to the sea it was the best way to stall them in their way to the Light's base.
He looked at his old friend, eyes shining with pain and sadness, "Water I'll get help, I promise I'll turn you back. Revert whatever that substance does. I know you are confused I know its a dark murky place. Its scary, but please never forget- we all are much more than some weapons. We decided to choose our own path. SO REMEMBER PLEASE!?"
R clenched his teeth his energy was gone, he opened his eyes when the hold on his feet left watching down at Water who fell from the cabin onto the vast sea. A confused expression in his face.
R climbed up gasping for air, Water would be alright he was atlantean right? Red showy costumes, claps, smiles the smell of popcorn and cotton candy filled his senses then a snap and screams. He shook his head 'what is all this.' Controlling his breathing he turned to the control panel.
The alarm of an incoming projectile soon was heard, had Water just shut down the machine?!.
R pivoted the helicopter as fast and skillfull possible diminishing the attack that was sure to blast the helicopter into pieces. Alarms blared as he was shaken roughly from the impact as it had managed to damage the motor.
He screamed as he was once again thrown around in the unstable cabin. The sea ended, the forest came. The helicopter flew with much difficulty. R maneuvered as much as he could, trying to activate any emergency protocol of the helicopter, everything had been jammed somehow.
...
The helix stopped and the helicopter began descending uncontrollably.
"No nonono no." R marked his fate. At least he had managed to place the com unit into Water's suit, hopefully The League would track it before the atlantean found out about it.
He exhaled, 'At least L and S had found a place in The League and hopefully someday they would get Water back. At least they were far from the Light's reach now. At least he had managed to stall the Light's progress and hopefully buy enough time for the Batman to act.'
R stared at the nearing ground, his eyes flashing with fear, 'I'm scared of falling.'
CRASH!
BAAM!
The helicopter crashed abruptly, taking out many trees as it slid through the muddy forest terrain. The sounds of the impact, and broken branches and apparatus could be heard loudly in contrast of the calm forest. The last alarm light stopped blaring, the last helix stopped turning, silence reigned once again in the place as not even a breath was heard.
Just a distant sound of running water, much like a water fall.