FOUR BOYS: The Path We Seek
Chapter 20: A New Team
"You can call me Megan. It's an Earth name, and I'm on Earth now."
Black Canary was rather satisfied how things had changed for good, not only for the boys, but for the archers that had been keeping in touch with the League and constantly visited the cave to spend some time together with the teens.
At first Roy was not keen of the whole ordeal but Artemis sat the record straight, she was fine after all.
Superboy and Renegade stood in fair ground, each respecting the other and training properly this time.
Batman had started communicating more as well, to which Canary attributed to the small raven haired that kept going between the mountain and Gotham no doubt to Wayne manor.
Recognize Martian Manhunter 07
Miss Martian B05
"Miss?" L said as he blocked the incoming blow from Artemis.
"Martian?" R finished as he looked at the zeta tube.
S stared curiously, they did not recognize anyone by that designation till now.
Artemis grinned and swipe L from his feet, earning a yelp and the computer calling fail. Instead of making fun or him, winking at S or fist-pumping Ren, she quickly walked to the beam.
"Megan"
"Artemis." The martian said and hugged the archer.
Martian man hunter nodded to the girls, then Roy and Black Canary who stood at the sideways. He walked over to the boys assessing each one from S, L and finally R.
They looked at the martian detective expectantly, they had not seen the hero since, well Cadmus.
The martian nodded warmly, "Is Batman around?"
"In the mission room." R supplied shortly. The hero nodded and left the three pair of eyes never leaving his figure until he was outside of their view.
Artemis brought Miss Martian over, "Guy's this is Megan or better known as Miss Martian."
"H-hi guys." She said nervously, sweet non the less.
R and L smiled and nodded.
She looked at Superboy and blushed even further, "Hi."
S was confused by the action but did not thought much about it as he said, "Hi."
L caught in immediately, he smirked knowingly "Oh Artemis seems like you have a rival. Aren't you jealous?"
She frowned before smirking, "How bout you L, aren't you jealous Supey gets all the attention?"
R looked bemused as the two started bickering, turning to look at a confused but suddenly more talkative clone and a blushing red martian...
'Yep, he suddenly felt like the third wheel.'
"Get a room~" He sang as to what he was answered by everybody calling him out.
...
He walked away towards the other more secluded archer, Roy Harper.
Roy stood as rigid as ever, his arms crossed as he looked over the group.
R began to feel a bit uncomfortable standing beside the archer, as they hadn't talk or interacted in any way since the mission.
Artemis had practically drag the older archer to the mountain to participate on group trainings, but had never once exchanged words with R.
That's why hearing him talk felt as he had misheard at first. He looked at said archer who did not look at him but indeed was talking to him. "So tell me, what happened to your atlantean friend. Did you shoot him and left him behind as you did to Wally?"
He flinched in return.
There was silence as he replayed what had just been said in his mind. Was Roy also upset with him?
The archer continued in a casual voice "Somehow you managed to escape your Masters" he gave out a laugh, "Or is this all part of the plan and you are actually a mole transferring information to them."
"A mole?"
"I have reasons to believe there is a mole amongst us. The most logical choice would be you three. I've cleared L and S. You on the other hand have kept secrets from everybody, seems pretty off to me, Renegade."
'Mami,Tatti'
'Dick, it's okay darling.'
"That would explain the mind-controlling fiasco last time, oh yeah I heard the story."
'The show must go on.'
'Please don't!'
"It would also explain why you are here, I doubt your leader and the Light would willingly let you go."
'SNAP!'
'Momi Tati!'
"O don't get why the Bat trusts you so much, what you did to him, to the league, to Superboy, Lightning, Artemis and the others... You won't be able to do it to me-"
'Take the boy.'
'You are now The Renegade, you will betray anyone and everyone who crosses your path. You are the weapon that will destroy-'
'I can't breath'
"The short pants from the raven caught everyone's attention.
"Ren?" Wally said looking at his friend worriedly.
"Ren!"
'Why did the speedster looked so worried, why was S running towards him, why were they calling his name.'
"Megan!" Artemis said as she caught the martian who clutched her temple.
He felt S catch him, he suddenly felt weak. 'Right. No sleep. Training. Stress. It had been pilling up.'
His knees gave up as he slid to the floor gently with the help of S.
"What did you do?"he heard Lightning demanding to Red Arrow. He didn't get what the archer said in return though.
Soon enough L knelt beside him placing a hand on his forehead.
"You have fever R. Don't push yourself too hard idiot." The speedster chastised. R hummed in return.
Roy had moved to help Miss Martian stand up, S picked Ren up.
"Are you alright." He asked the martian.
She flushed, "yeah-I mean Yes i'm al right. It's just..." she looked at the boy on Superboy's arms. "I must be tired, its nothing."
L and S nodded. They turned to follow the others to the med bay.
...
In the mission room Canary looked back as she noticed Artemis and Roy taking a weak looking Megan through the hall... 'Were they headed to the medbay?'
"Guys, what happened?" She said hoping it was not another fight.
Martian Manhunter turned, as well as Flash and Batman. The martian went to his niece.
"It's fine Uncle J'onn. I can't seem to control what goes in my mind. Hello Megan..." She said sully.
As L and S walked R in, Batman's eyes narrowed, he looked at R. The others smiled strained, "I'm alright, just... not.. feeling the aster." He confessed.
"The aster?" Batman stared.
"Yeah... you know like the opposite of disaster."
L looked bemused by R's wordplay, he turned to Batman, "He collapsed and has fever. He's obviously pushing himself too much-"
"Wal!" The other hissed.
"You are out of your game pal, and you know it, you need some rest."
'Why was Roy being nice to him all of the sudden, was it because the heroes were present?'
Batman nodded, "Take them to the med bay, Flash will be there in a second." He turned to look strictly at R, "Rest." He ordered firmly. R sighed, 'such a worry wart.'
Martian Manhunter turned to the heroes, "I apologize, my niece is still learning to control her powers. I am sure that within time and training there would be no further incidents."
"Make it happen." The bat half-growled. As he turned back to the computer.
Black Canary sighed, 'Just like an overprotective parent.'
-.-.-.-.-.-.-.
R laid on one of the med bay's beds, with L and S by his side.
"Richard talk to us." L coerced.
"Dick" the other said.
L blanched at the name, "Dude there's no need to be ru-"
"Short for Richar-" the other interrupted amused.
"Oh...Okay, Dick are you sure everything is fine? You are not gonna attack us like last time." He said jokingly trying to lighten the mood.
By the look on R face, he had done the opposite. "I'm sorry." He said softly.
Superboy had heard... obviously his superhearing had picked on the conversation R had with Red Arrow, and as much as he was upset with the archer for what he said, he was curious of how Ren had gotten here.
He started hoping to sound casual, "Ren, after you left Happy Harbor..."
R sighed softly already knowing the others intention, "Water and I... We had just returned to the base. The Light was not happy with me, Water intervened. He actually challenged me on a duel to see who was a better leader. The other member's supported the idea even if I tried to reason. The duel began, we fought, he he won. The mas-Light decided he would take as the leader... W was taken away after that. The administer the Last Substance in his bloodstream."
"The Last Substance..." L repeated worriedly. 'What else could they do to them. Wasn't it enough already.'
R grimaced, "It seems they were not done with us." He said as if reading the speedsters thought. " I failed Water and I failed you guys... I'm sorry."
"R, It wasn't your fault. We'll get Water back okay."
The raven nodded, he exhaled softly, "I just hope whatever that thing is, its temporary. I wonder if we can run away from the Light."
S and L exchange a look worried as they hadn't thought about it.
R groaned in exasperation, "Water sacrificed himself so that I could make it possible even if he didn't know what I was going to do. He trusted me blindly, how could he do that?!"
L shook his head, "Because he believes in you. As I believe in you, as Supey and Artemis do. Miss M is cool too i'm sure and Roy-"
"I'm not so sure about him." R interrupted.
"-Is it because he said you could be a mole?" S said.
The boy flinched, "I'm not."
"Of course not. We trust you." L stated, S nodded, R looked at them.
L huffed, "Not this again Ren, come on we need to get back together, the four of us. It's our time."
At that they all nodded determingly.
"We need to get Water back somehow, there must be a way. Could you bring me my computer?"
"Uuuuh dude if the Bat finds out your aren't resting, you'll get anesthesia in your system to make you rest."
"I guess... please L."
-.-.-.-.-.
...The Light's Base...
Water clutched the intercome that he had found in his suit.
"Renegade."
'Why hadn't he disclose that to the Light as well? He was troubled, part of him wanted to please his masters and follow the mission until completed successfully , part of him wanted his comrades to be better to become better just like him, then part of him wanted to run away and look for something more.'
Flashback
"Master's I ask for permission to conduct a surprise attack to be able to retrieve my comrades from The League."
"Are you capable enough of achieving the task.?"
"Indeed... I have not failed any mission you've set to me. I have also showed my loyalty to you."
"Very well Water... you will be allowed to seek for your teammates, but once you do, you will use this." He was presented with a case that was feel the word strange red technology.
"Master am I too-"
"Yes, finish the phase. Bring them back there will be no punishment for they will now understand the purpose of The Light, and the reason they were made."
Water nodded.
"I will seek for some allies to accompany you in case the League interrupts. I trust you have a way of luring them have you not?"
Water nodded, his eyes gleaming.
End of Flashback
He clutched onto the small device.
"It's time."
-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-
...Mount Justice, Med Bay...
L had swiftly gotten the computer without anyones notice.
"So what's the plan?"
"I'm actually counting on intercepting the next rendezvous of the Light."
"Can you do that?"
"The trackers-the com-units you used on the last mission have a tracking device on it... Last I checked he had gotten back to the base. That's where it died."
"So you are saying that for the next move you are counting on it activating once out of the base."
"Yes. It will take us to were Water is, it will be safer than heading straight into the Light's base and taking our chances." He shuddered.
"Great... but the League won't be happy about it."
"Then we don't tell them."
"Then how can we get out and go wherever W will be?"
"How bout some help from us?"
"Artemis, Megan, Roy."
"I have a bioship, its an organic martian ship." The martian girl raised her hand.
L grinned, "...cool."
...
And with that Artemis and Roy left to attend their city, Lightning went to have some lunch and Superboy and Roy decided to spare, leaving R and Miss Martian to rest some more. Well Megan did, R kept on checking stuff in his computer.
She sighed, "Renegade I didn't mean to see-"
"I know. I'm sorry I didn't want you to see that either."
She nodded sadly, "If you want to talk about it or need help I am here. I won't tell anyone."
"Thanks Miss M." He smiled honestly, she smiled back.
'How come a boy this sweet and charming could have been trained to kill and conquer. Her uncle had been hesitant to bring her along many times, but maybe things had gotten better, in any case she was glad to be here and hoped they would get along better.'
-.-.-.-.-.-.-
Batman had found R typing at his computer like there was no morning, he stifled a sigh. He had announced the heroes would be leaving to the Watchtower and Red Tornado would be available if anything happened. R dislodge a usb drive and gave it to Batman. L and S marveled at the silent communication between both. The hero nodded and left with Flash and Black Canary to the Watchtower.
"What was that?"
"It's a contingency plan if all comes to what we've been speculating with Batman, it will hopefully come in handy." L sighed 'he knew that was as much as he was gonna get.' Still it was better that nothing.
They had moved to the living room, Megan occupying the kitchen saying she wanted to try baking human cookies. Artemis followed her to help or rather make sure she didn't burn the whole mountain.
"Are you watching static again?" L sighed heavily as he sat down next to R.
The clone shrugged, R laughed.
The cookies had turn out good, slightly but burned, but good non the less. Obviously they could never match Alfred's cooking so he was biased in his opinion. L had stuffed his mouth full of them, he seemed pretty happy for getting to eat.
Roy kept his distance, R had notice how he sometimes stared with a frown in his face.
A beep sounded taking everybody out of their actions and/or thoughts.
His computer had finally picked up a location, he grinned.
"We are all set."
L zoomed to look over the boys shoulder, the satellite had registered a fallen plane,"How come homeland security and the NTSB aren't all over this?"
"The com unit ID is linked as a league alert, that's why authorities didn't receive it and the jet did not follow the flight plan. Flew under the Radar but the watchtower auto tracked the jet and the crash"
As they walked to the hangar, Artemis had to ask, "Then the league got the alert also?"
"No. They didn't" Was the simple answer, the boys marveled at the inside of the bioship.
L smiled and turned to Artemis, Roy and Megan who entered after, "That's because our Boy Wonder has some mighty hacking skills and arranged to get the alert first."
R flushed, then turned a bit hesitant, "Are you sure you want to come? You'll surely get in trouble with the League."
Artemis scoffed, "Hey we are not officially in the League remember. Now let's go get your friend back."
"Thank you."