Chapter 12

A/N: I do not own YJ or TFP.

/comm-link/

Telepathy

'Bee's speech

Metropolis August 3

A school bus drove over a bridge filled with students as the bridge began to destabilize. Two of the support cables broke, landing in the road, forcing cars to slam on their brakes. The bus was hit by a semi forcing it to break through the barrier wall, before it hit another car doing the same to it. A Lamborghini sped up behind the bus and slammed into it, making it start to tip.

Up in Wayne Tower, Bruce Wayne and Orion Pax had stopped their meeting to look outside. Bruce pressed a button on his desk, opening a secret drawer containing his suit as Optimus pulled his armor out of his subspace. Hearing the distinctive blast of the sound barrier breaking they looked to see Superman flying over. Going under the bridge, the Man of Steel pushed the breaking pieces back up and started using his heat vision to weld it back together. Superboy jumped off a building and onto the bridge, making the man holding it up grunt from the sudden jolt. Racing over to the nearest car he pulled it back up to safety.

Superboy then ran towards the school bus and began pulling it back up. It bumped as the front tires hit the bridge making it fly up. He looked up to see Superman holding the bus and setting it safely on the ground. "I had that," he said.

"I didn't want to chance it, as it was, your landing could've destabilized the entire bridge," Superman retorted.

"But it didn't."

"But it could have," he reminded. "We still don't know the limits of your powers."

"Well…maybe, you could help me figure it out," Superboy suggested.

"Optimus and Batman have it covered."

"I know but—"

"Superman," he said answering his comm. "Whoa Arrow slow down. What's attacking? …No, I'm definitely available. Coordinates…acknowledged. On my way. Sorry Superboy…duty calls." And with that the Boy Scout left the forlorn clone behind.

Up in the tower Optimus and Bruce looked at each other. "Your turn," they said simultaneously.

"I called him last time," Bruce said.

"He almost let me freeze to death in the arctic, and didn't arrive until three hours after we called him," Optimus replied. "Your turn."

Sighing Bruce picked up his cell and called. /Already got the alert Bruce/

"I know Clark, but we need to talk."

-.-

Mt. Justice

Aqualad, KF, Miss M, and Robin stood around a holographic air hockey table trying, and failing, to keep up with the high-speed game going on between Emerald and Bumblebee. "C'mon!" Emerald cursed as the puck flew past her hand and into the goal.

"Recognized, Superboy—B08."

"Hey Superboy! How was Metropolis?" M'gann asked as he stormed past.

"Everyone ready for training?" Arcee asked as she, Black Canary, and Martian Manhunter walked in.

"Uncle J'ohn!" M'gann exclaimed flying over to hug him.

"M'gann, I was in the neighborhood, so I thought I'd stop by to see how you were settling in," he said.

"A few bumps but I'm learning!"

"That's all I can ask."

"Stick around," Black Canary said as she saw Superboy trying to walk off. "Class is in session."

"We consider it an honor to be your teachers and intend to pass on all we can to you," Arcee said.

"Mostly what we've learned from our own mentors," Canary winced as she removed her jacket. "And our own bruises."

"What happened?" M'gann asked worriedly.

"The job," Arcee replied.

"Now, combat is about controlling conflict, putting the battle on your terms. You should always be acting, never reacting," Canary said before looking to her comrade. "You want to spar first?"

"Sure, I'll need a sparring partner," she said.

"Oh! Oh! Me!" Wally said raising his hand and tossing his banana away. "And after this, I'll show you my moves."

Arcee just smirked and got into a fighting stance, holding back a chuckle as she saw the team pull out their phones to video their spar. Kid Flash got into his own fighting stance, they sat like that for a moment before Arcee lashed out she swung a leg towards his head. Ducking down, Wally was greeted by a fist to his face. Arcee grabbed his arm and flipped him over her shoulder and he laid sprawled on the ground, the word fail hovering above him.

"Oh…hurts so good," he groaned.

"So, can anyone tell me where he went wrong?" Arcee asked.

"Oh! He hit on you and had his aft handed to him!"

"He let you dictate the terms of conflict," Emerald said elbowing her friend.

"Exactly, and by doing that he left himself wide open for my attacks, making it easier for me to manipulate the fight to cover my strengths and expose his weaknesses," Arcee started.

"Please," Superboy scoffed. "While my powers the battle is always on my terms. I'm a living weapon. And this is a waste of my time!"

"Prove it," Canary said challengingly as she stepped in the ring. Arcee stepped out crossing her arms. Superboy glared at her as he got into a fighting stance. He lunged at her, but she just ducked under his arm, sticking out her leg to trip him.

Robin and 'Bee started laughing only to get elbowed by Emerald.

Falling onto his back, he got up almost shaking from rage. "You're angry. Good. Now channel that anger—!" She stopped as the clone lunged again with a roar. Sidestepping, Canary grabbed his arm and used his momentum against him, hurling him over her shoulder and onto her back.

"That's it! I'm done!" he snapped getting up.

"Training is mandatory," Canary said crossing her arms.

/Optimus to cave/ the Prime said appearing on a holo-screen. /Five hours ago, a new menace attacked Green Arrow and Black Canary/ A picture of an android appeared in the upper corner of the screen. /The attacker had the ability to study then duplicated the powers and abilities of its opponents. Arrow called in reinforcements, which nearly proved disastrous as our enemy gained more power with each new combatant/ The video showed the android hurling Manhunter aside before Superman flew at him and got hit with heat vision sending him crashing into Flash. Arcee attacked with her vehicle armor in "puppet mode" only to have the android override her command of it and use it to attack Batman who was tackled out of the way by Optimus. The Prime lifted Arcee's bike and hurled it at their opponent before the video then cut off.

"It can copy Cybertronian abilities?!"

/It would seem so Bumblebee/ Optimus answered. /In the end, it took twelve Leaguers to defeat and dismantle the android/

"Who made it? T.O. Morro?" Robin asked.

/Good guess, but by Red Tornado's and my scans we don't think so/

"The technology bares the signature of Professor Ivo," Martian Manhunter stated.

"Isn't he dead?" Aqualad asked.

"So, we all thought," Arcee said.

"Or hoped," Canary added.

/To make sure the threat is neutralized we have two trucks taking the dismantled parts to two separate STAR Labs in Boston and New York for immediate evaluation. There will be four other decoy trucks to confuse any possible thieves; every precaution will be taken on this mission. You will divide into two undercover teams to guard the real trucks/

"So now we take out your trash?" Superboy hissed.

/Superboy/ Optimus said warningly /this is a very important mission. If tech like this was to get into the hands of our enemies only Primus knows the amount damage and loss of life would result from it/ Not getting and answer the Prime continued. /Now, Alpha Team is: Aqualad, Kid Flash, and Miss Martian. Beta Team: is Emerald Lantern, Robin, and Superboy. Bumblebee, your emergency backup should either team be attacked. Ratchet is sending a groundbridge. I suggest rolling out the moment it arrives/ With that he gave a nod and hung up.

The team began to head towards the hangar when Canary put a hand on Superboy's shoulder. "When you're ready, I'll be here," she said as he turned and left.

-.-

Lightfield County

The android parts were squared away within the two trucks and a thumb's up was given to Superman. He nodded and looked into the trees where he could see the team—minus Bumblebee—sitting on their bikes. Feeling like he was being watched, Superboy looked at Superman who just whipped his head away before putting his helmet on.

/STAR Boston is go/

/STAR Manhattan is go/

Green Arrow nodded at Batman who gave the order to move out. The trucks filed out with the team fallowing their cargo close behind. Seeing them go, the League members began to leave. Superman was about to fallow when a hand was placed on his shoulder. Turning he found both Optimus and Batman standing behind him.

"I told you: we need to talk," Batman said.

-.-

"So, if dislike is the opposite of like; is aster the opposite of disaster? You know, instead of things going wrong they go right," Robin said. Superboy didn't answer, but instead glared ahead.

"Clearly you're not feeling the aster, what's wrong?" Emerald asked.

"Canary, what business does she have teaching combat to a guy with super strength?" he growled.

"Taking down stronger guys is part of the gig, we've all learned that the hard way," Robin commented.

"Yea, I know I've dealt with guys a lot stronger than I am. And besides we're going to need to learn how to take down trained foes, or do you not remember the Decepticon incident?" Emerald pointed out as he sped forwards in anger. Robin looked at her and just shrugged as she shook her head.

-.-

"Do you think Superboy is ok?" M'gann asked. "I wasn't reading his mind I swear, but anger was coming off him in waves."

"Surfed that wave, just give him space," KF said driving up next to the Martian girl. "Me, stick as close as you want."

"He just needs time to calm down, a quiet mission will clear his head," Aqualad stated.

At that moment dozens of robotic, flying monkeys burst out of the corn and latched onto the trucks.

/Robin, Superboy, Emerald! Our truck is under attack!/

/Kinda figured/ Robin answered as the same thing went on with their own truck.

/Do any of you require backup?/ 'Bee asked from his spot back at the Autobot base on standby.

/I think we got it. Em?/ Wally asked.

/We can take them. We'll call if we need assistance!/

/…Alright, I have a bad feeling about this, but I will trust your judgement/

"I hate monkeys," Superboy growled darkly.

"Robot monkeys! Totally Ivo's tweaked style!" Robin said as he and Emerald pressed a button on their bikes.

The back half of Robin's detached, flying through the air shooting lazars at the robotic primates. Emerald jumped off hers, putting on her ring as hers split into two more of what Robin's became. She flew towards the truck making a baseball bat to hit the monkeys with all while shouting: "WHACK THE MONKEY!"

"Hey Supey, switch your ride to battle mode!" Robin said.

"No point!" he said leaping off and onto the truck.

"Or not!" Robin said leaping off and using his grappling hook to get onto the back of the truck.

Pulling out a bat-a-rang he began to stab through the money's as several took out the flying weapons above them.

Superboy hurled several of the monkeys at Emerald, who had decided at somepoint a chain-saw would be more fun, and he crushed another. The deactivated monkey's eyes turned green for a moment before shooting lasers out and hitting him in the face. Screaming out, he held his face as the monkey's lifted him off the ground and into the air. Seeing this Emerald flew up and used a gun to take down the monkey's, as he fell she swooped down and caught him.

"You need to lose some weight!" she huffed as she shot towards the truck.

-.-

Aqualad pulled out his water-bearers and started swinging tow water whips, knocking the monkey's off. Both Miss Martian and Kid Flash ditched their bikes and began to attack the offending animatronic primates.

The monkeys were firing lasers from their eye, cutting an opening in the roof of the armored vehicle, ripping it back the men inside began shooting at them. M'gann flew to the top and used her telekinesis to send them flying off. On the side Kid Flash was busy kicking the ones clinging to the side cutting through off as Aqualad dealt with the ones attached to the back. The Martian girl flew to the front, creating extra arms she knocked the ones clinging to her off, before punching the living daylights out of the ones attacking the windshield. The driver screamed as she flew back up and landed on the roof where KF also screamed the moment he got up to the roof upon seeing the extra extremities. More monkeys poured out of the hole in the roof attacking them as four inside melted part of it away, taking off with the android parts. Seeing this Aqualad stopped and glared after, hoping the others were faring better than they did.

-.-

Robin hopped onto the roof of the moving truck, knocking off the monkeys as he went. Emerald dropped Superboy back down, before she too began attacking the ones assaulting the windshield. Two of the monkeys climbed down and shot out the tires making the car veer out of control.

"Get out!" Robin shouted grabbing the driver. They jumped off the truck and into the baseball-mitt that Emerald had waiting for them. The truck flipped with Superboy still on top. Once it stopped the back exploded and the androids flew out with the parts, leaving the men coughing in the mess. Setting them down, Emerald and Robin began moving the injured out of harm's way before Superboy lifted the truck glaring after the monkeys. Leaping after, he ignored his teammates' calls as he chased after.

/Aqualad to Robin we've lost our cargo, did you—/

/It's gone/ he sighed.

/And so's our partner!/ Emerald huffed.

Superboy continued jumping after when his comm pinged. /Superboy, send your coordinates, we can help you/

"I don't need help! Don't want any!" he snarled removing the piece and dropping it.

/Superboy? …Kul'vak! He ditched his comm!/

"Super! Now we can't even track him!" Kid grumbled.

"He's out of my telepathic range," Miss M sighed. "This Professor Ivo, if he is alive, seems to be two steps ahead of us. Maybe we should contact Red Tornado?"

"Tornado always tells us to handle things ourselves. The mission can still succeed if we recover the parts before they're reassembled," Aqualad replied.

"That's a great plan, except for the part that we don't know where they're at!" Wally snapped.

/Actually we do. Before the parts got sent out, I managed to place trackers on a few of the pieces should any go AWOL/

"How did you…?"

/…Looks like they're at…Gotham City/

"That far south! M'gann and I will not get there anytime soon. Bumblebee bridge yourself there and wait for Emerald, Robin, and Kid to catch up!"

/Aye, aye, el Captain!/

"This is a disaster," Emerald said as Robin called his bike over.

"Heavy on the dis," he agreed.

-.-

Metropolis

"Apple pie," Clark ordered.

"The Devil's Food," Bruce said.

"Same," Orion ordered handing the waiter their menus.

"Something tells me this isn't about dessert?" Clark said looking between the two imposing men before him.

"The boy needs you," Orion stated frankly.

"No, need you. He needs Red; I'm just a constant reminder of what he's not," Clark replied.

"Sorry Clark, but you're dead wrong," Bruce said. "We know he troubles you, but he's here. You need to get over the how and the why. Trust me, this boy needs his father."

"I'm not his father!" Clark growled standing up.

"You can deny the truth all you want, but that does not change the facts Clark," Orion said. "Believe me, I know."

Shrugging off his ominous words, Clark put on his hat. "I'll take that pie to go," he said going to pay as the two fathers looked after and shook their heads.

-.-

Gotham City

The monkeys flew into a train car with the crates. Superboy jumped onto the roof and tore through it glaring at a red-headed man in a sweater-vest and casual pants. "You? You're Ivo? I'm whelmed," he scoffed.

"You're one to talk; since when does the big, blue boy scout have a brat?"

"He doesn't!"

"If you say so," the man chuckled. "Have you met my Mobile Optimum Neural Quotient Infiltrators?" Most of the MONQIs flew at him, but he used his fist to dismantle all of them. "And I spent so long trying to find an acronym for monkey."

"Access: Captain Atom." A white light slammed into him, sending Superboy flying back.

"Since Professor Ivo's Magnificent MONQIs don't float your boat, perhaps my Amazing Amazo will better suit you…or better slay you."

A tall, green android with red eyes stepped out gazing down at the young clone. "Give it your best shot," Superboy taunted wiping away some blood on his lip.

"Please; my android has the strength to fight both Superman and Optimus Prime at the same time, what chance do you have?"

Superboy lunged forwards attacking the bot. the machine just took all the hits, showing to have the flexibility of Martian Manhunter as he punched the face, but the neck just turned all the way around. As he went for another punch, the robot grabbed his hand, slowly squeezing down on it.

"Sorry, did that strike a nerve?" Ivo sneered. "Amazo, strike a few more!"

Superboy was punched into the wall, landing on the floor he saw the android staring at him. "Access: Black Canary," he said as his jaw unhinged and it released that very superhero's cry. "Access: Flash" running up with his speed Superboy was punched repeatedly.

Falling to the ground Ivo laughed. "No wonder daddy doesn't let you out much, you're not doing justice to the old S shield are you?"

"Access: Martian Manhunter," Amazo said as Superboy's fist went through him, before punching him back through the crate wall and onto the next open cart. "Access: Optimus Prime." Superboy found himself being lifted by the front of his shirt. Amazo punched him, sending the teen flying into a preppy school in the middle of the city.

"Finish him, Priority: Alpha," Ivo shrugged.

"Access: Superman," the android said flying away.

-.-

Robin drove into the city limits of Gotham now in his normal uniform while Emerald flew right above him. Beside them KF finally joined them. "So, you changed too?" Robin asked.

"Yea, are you kidding? I feel naked in civies," he shivered. "'Bee still tracking the parts?"

"Yea," he said driving up next to them, nearly making Kid trip.

"Dude! How on earth are you so quiet and stealthy in that thing?!"

"So where are they now?" Emerald asked.

"They were going through Gotham, but they veered to a place called: Gotham Academy."

"That's my school!" Robin gaped as Emerald laughed.

-.-

Superboy was hurled into a trophy case, before he was picked up again and tossed into the lockers. Getting up he saw one with a picture of Superman with little hearts surrounding him. He made an extra effort to punch that one. Try to attack again he was hurled through two walls, ending up on the gym floor. Hearing clapping, he looked up to see the professor sitting in the bleachers.

"I don't normally attend these things, but this was too good to miss."

"Access: Optimus Prime." Amazo ran forwards and slammed Superboy down onto the ground. He raised his fists to crush the teen when a red and yellow blur snatched him up. "Martian Manhunter." He density shifted as a bright green hammer swung down, going through him. "Access: Red Tornado." He flew up surrounded by red, swirling winds.

Getting close to the teens he hurled them back, Wally was tossed into a wall, Superboy and Robin landed in the bleachers, only Bumblebee and Emerald evaded the attack because they were up in the rafters. "Access: Superman." Red lasers shot out of his eyes, towards Kid, but he was yanked up by a green rope depositing him on the other side of the room. Emerald flew at him, a giant baseball bat ready to swing. "Access: Black Canary." Releasing the cry, the young lantern was hurled back into her cousin. "Superman." He punched Superboy into the bleachers, Bumblebee attacked from behind, Amazo grabbed his arms and hurled the Cybertronian over his shoulders towards a wall. Flipping in the air 'Bee bounced off the wall and rolled to his feet. "Martian Manhunter." 'Bee and Robin both tossed explosives towards the machine, only for him to use extra-long arms to smack them out of the air. "Superman."

Superboy crawled out of the dent he made in the bleachers, he saw Robin, Emerald, and KF on the floor in the corner and Bumblebee was busy keeping heat rays from burning his face off.

Ivo yawned in boredom as he watched, so far, the only interesting thing was the Cybertronian and Lantern, but that was only because it gave him the opportunity to study the pair more. "Normally Amazo would study your abilities and copy them, but what's the point? You're all such poor copies of the originals."

"So everyone keeps saying…IT MAKES ME ANGRY!" Superboy shouted flying at the professor instead of the machine. "WANNA SEE HOW I CHANEL THAT ANGER?!"

"Great he's gone ballistic again!" KF said.

"Maybe not," Emerald smirked.

"Amazo! Protect your master! Priority: Alpha!" Ivo said as he dodged another incoming attack.

Turning off the lasers he fired at Bumblebee he turned to look at the clone. "Captain Atom." Sticking out his hand he fired a light ray at Superboy.

"Anyone wanna play keep away?" Robin asked as he kicked Ivo into Emerald's waiting cannon. Firing him, 'Bee knocked him out of the air, and Kid sprinted towards the professor. "Access: Optimus Prime." Slamming his foot down, he sent a shockwave through the floor that sent Wally flying into his cousin. Bumblebee pulled out his whip and swung it towards the robot. "Martian Manhunter." The whip phased through the android, who noticed that Superboy was charging towards him. "Superman." He slammed the clone aside and caught Kid Flash's leg as he attempted to use the distraction to ambush him from behind. Putting him into a hug, the android started to try to crush him.

An arrow flew down from the ceiling towards Amazo. "Martian Manhunter." The arrow passed harmlessly through him, but made him drop Kid in the process. "Superman." Seeing an opportunity Superboy ran over and impanted his fist in his head as he turned back to normal. The android fritzed out as the fist in its head blacked the systems, before the head exploded.

"We need to disassemble him!" Robin said as he and 'Bee got to work.

"He has no head," Wally scoffed.

"We can't take any chances," Aqualad said as he and Miss Martian finally arrived.

"Superboy? Are you ok?" the Martian girl asked.

"Fine, feeling the aster," he said looking at Emerald and Robin who smiled back.

"Where's Ivo?!" Wally snapped as they all looked around to find him gone.

"Uh oh," Emerald said as her phone rang. Pulling out she answered. "Hello? This is she…wait…what?" she said her smile fading and a look of horror coming upon her face. "No! It can't be true! Are you sure it's them?!" The team stopped what they were doing to stare at her, when the tears started flowing they knew something was wrong, horribly wrong. She cried out dropping the phone and falling to her knees as her suit color changed to a bright red and black mix. Before anyone could ask what was wrong she flew off. They looked at Wally and Bumblebee whom nodded and chased after her, all worried out of their minds.

-.-

Mt. Justice

"The Amazo Android is in pieces again, safely being studied at the two Starr Labs," Aqualad reported. "But Ivo escaped and since he originated the tech, he's arguable more dangerous than the android."

"Capturing Ivo will be a League priority," Arcee stated.

"But we understand your mission encountered…. other, complications," Black Canary said.

"Complications come with the job," Batman said. "Your ability to handle them has impressed the League."

"The whole League?" Superboy asked.

"In time: yes," Optimus said with a sympathetic look. "As you know, Kryptonians have very hard heads."

At the comment Superboy smiled slightly, the image of Prime tossing Superman around a room reciting some ancient Cybertronian code of parenthood came to mind.

"There's no shame in asking for help, that's why the League exists," Batman continued. "Because even there's some problems that even we cannot handle alone."

"Please!" Robin scoffed. "If we needed help you'd never give us the chance!" He pulled out an arrow with green feathers. "You were spying on us! Babysitting! You still don't trust us!" Green Arrow pulled out his own and Robin stopped his rant. "That's not your arrow. So that leaves Speedy! Good to see he still has our backs!" Walking up he held out the arrow he grabbed for Wally, Emerald, and 'Bee as a souvenir.

Superboy cautiously walked up to Black Canary and Arcee. "I'm ready."

"Good, cause we're here," Black Canary said with a soft smile.

"Hey Batman?" M'gann said raising her hand. "What happened to Emerald?"

The adults went quiet, looking at the two commanders of the team. Optimus stepped forwards looking solemn. "Unfortunately, Erica's parents were involved a bridge collapse earlier today. They didn't make it."