Chapter 29

A/N: I just own this story. Emerald is my friend's OC, whom she let me borrow. And the characters aren't mine…sadly.

/comm/

Telepathy/flashbacks

"Voice synthesizers"

Oct 21, Mt. Justice

The team sat silently in the living room of the cave. Megan stood cooking something, Wally was sitting at the table looking down. Erica was lying against Moonknight on the ground writing in her journal. Robin and Artemis sat on the couches looking down, Kaldur sitting on a chair nearby. No one was speaking.

Down in the gym, Bumblebee wasin his armor taking out his frustraition on the unfortunate punching bags and practice drones that got his attention; Starburst contentedly curled up on the balance beam ignoring his master's ruckus.

-.-

"Recognized: Batman—02."

"How are they?" Batman asked.

"I am still shaken by what we wrought," Manhunter said, "one can only imagine how these youths fare."

"I know our virtual reality training went badly, but I was hoping the team would rally by now," he sighed.

"Trauma lingers Bruce," Optimus said. "And sometimes it never goes away. Black Canary has her work cut out for her."

-.-

"I can only imagine, how devistaing it was, losing your friends, your family, convinced the whole time it was all real," Canary said as Conner glowered in front of her. "I'm sure it must've been horrible for you." Superboy didn't respond. "I understand, you're Superboy, you'r not supposed to have feelings of sadness or vulnerability."

"You don't know how I feel!" he snapped getting up and walking out.

"Conner!"

"Just leave me alone!"

-.-

Metropolis

In a park a golden portal opened up and a flying car flew out, holding five people.

"Here' haja!"

"Na! Nos kemp nos danja da!"

One in green armor held up a small box and it blinked.

"When can we see some cowboys?!" one asked.

"Your obsession with the barbarians must wait Seraphan. Mother Box, please camouflage all extra-terrestrial signatures, scan, and advise." The box beeped. "What we seek is on world."

"The New Genesphere is on Earth!" the girl said.

"Then we shall take her back! The Forever people will not be denied! And woe to any who stand in our way."

-.-

Cave

Superboy stormed down the hall only to balk as a punching bag flew out of the gym and into the wall. "Done with the shrink already?" 'Bee asked coming out.

"What's it to you!?"

Bumblebee just looked down and shrugged, grabbing the punching bag and hurling it back into the almost destroyed room, before walking alongside the Kryptonian.

"Why are you following me!? I don't need a babysitter!" Conner growled.

Bumblebee grabbed his shoulder, and narrowed his eyes. "Look, I ain't here to babysit ya. I just need to get out of here before Canary tries to get me to 'talk about my pain' or whatever scrap she's tellin' us. I don't do shrinks," he growled heading for the garage.

"So you don't like talking about it either," Conner realized.

"I prefer to handle it on my own," he stated coldly as they hopped on a pair of motorcycles.

"Aren't you…?"

"Just cause I prefer my car doesn't mean I can't use a bike." 'Bee smirked behind his mask and he opened the door. Just as they were about to drive out, Sphere rolled in the way.

"Sphere! Out of the way!"

The giant metal ball was shaking and beeping until it transformed into a bike. "That's new…and not my fault."

"Wanna try it out?"

"Let's roll out before they realize we're AWOL!" 'Bee said as they hopped in, Wolf and Starburst somehow fitting themselves together in the front.

Driving off the bike lifted off the ground and flew away. On the ground Batman, Optimus, and Red Tornado ran to the doors. "Superboy return to cave," Batman said before hearing the echo on the ditched comm on the floor. He was about to call Bumblebee when a hand was placed on his shoulder.

"Let them go, they need some time to sort things out themselves," Prime said walking back inside.

-.-

"Look, me dying during the exercise might've started things going south, but I was coma-girl," Artemis growled. "Missed all the fun of forgetting it wasn't real, so, no trauma. No need for a shrink."

"You're too tough to need help."

"Whatever."

Canary sighed and put her elbows on her knees. "Or too tough to admit you need help. Artemis, it's not a sign of weakness to open up to your friends."

"I know," she snarled.

"But you still keep secrets."

"YOU WON'T TELL THEM! YOU CAN'T!" she exclaimed.

"I won't, but you should. You should start by admitting you're not really Green Arrow's niece," Canary suggested.

"Yea right," she scoffed. "Can you imagine what Wally would do with that?"

"Interesting, so the person you're most worried about, is Wally?"

Artemis froze and a blush crept on her cheeks.

-.-

Eastern Seaboard

"Let's see what our boy can do!" Superboy said.

"Why not?"

Wolf barked and Starburst hissed in agreement. Going higher they did a few flips and tricks before being stopped by a flying car.

"Return the New Genesphere and the rest of the technology you've stolen from New Genesis humans."

"Who are you?"

"Let's keep this simple! That," he pointed at the bike, "belongs to us! Give it back!"

They got up to fight and 'Bee knelt on the back with his blasters ready. The sphere beeped a few times and the leader stood up. "Forever People, stand down! They did not steal the New Genesphere, they saved it from the real thieves!"

"Apologizes, the Forever People embrace you as friends, allies, and worthy warriors!" the big one smiled.

"You've got to be kidding me," Superboy grumbled.

"I swear I've heard of these people from somewhere," 'Bee said sitting on the back scratching his head.

-.-

Cave

"I'm the General, but behanved like a soldier and sacrified myself, I am not fit for command," Kaldur said. "I must resign as team leader."

"Who do you recommend to take your place?" Canary asked.

"Artemis is too raw and untrusting. Kid Flash too impulsive and rash. Miss Martian remains too eager to please. Superboy carries too much anger."

"Leaving only three options," Canary said. "Bumblebee, Robin, and Emerald Lantern."

"But Robin is too young!"

"Kaldur, you're all young," Canary said.

"I cannot shift this burden to him."

"Then what about Emerald and Bumblebee?" she asked.

"Emerald is like Wally sometimes, she can be brash and impulsive, she lets her emotions control her. And with her being a Lantern, she would not always be there," he said. "And Bumblebee…during the simulation he took command when I could not, he put things to us as it was and did not sugar-coat anything, putting the mission back on track. He would be the next logical choice with all his experience, but with him being so involved with the Autobots and us, I fear he would not always be there when the team would need it…"

"And?"

"He was too cold, too precise, too harsh, it was like he didn't care what happened to us, just as long as the mission was completed. It was like…he had no emotions," Kaldur sighed. "I was afraid of what he might do, of what he was—is capabale of, seeing how he wiped out a large portion of the attacking fleet by himself…Seems I will have to withdraw my resignation."

-.-

Seaboard

"Forever People?" Superboy asked.

"We are young gods, new gods."

"There's only one God," 'Bee mumbled under his breath, he didn't like starting religious aruments, but people who called themselves gods were the ones he personally wanted to hurl into a smlting pit.

"They call me Seraphin," the one dressed like a cowboy said tipping his hat.

"I'm Dreamer, this is Moonflight, and our leader Vikin," she introduced.

"I am named for an animal that does not exist on this world, so you may call me Wolf."

"That's Wolf," Conner said as Wolf growled.

"Oh, Bear then, Bear is even better."

"I'm Superboy, and the quiet guy behind me is Bumblebee." Starburst hissed. "And that's Starburst."

"This is Mother Box the living computer," Vikin said.

"That is not a living computer, I'm a living computer," 'Bee said.

"Please, the only way to be a livin' computer is to be a Cybertronian!" Seraphin laughed and 'Bee just looked at him. "Wait…you're a…?"

"Yep."

"The gods of old," Bear said as they stared.

"Mother Box has tracked our stolen rescue drill here," Vikin said as they stopped over an old construction site. "It is beneath us."

"That's a construction site," Conner sighed.

"Perfect cover for illeagal drilling, especially when the federal reserve is right across the street," 'Bee said and they got stupid looks from the off-worlders. "People keep money there."

"It's a heist," Seraphin said grabbing his guns. "C'mon partners let's ride in there guns blazin' and round up them outlaws!"

"He's watched a lot of Earth Westerns," Dreamer said.

"Don't worry 'bout it, so 've I."

"Yea, well, there's a time to go in strong, and a time to go in smart," Superboy said.

"I see the extra lessons with Arcee and Canary have been paying off," 'Bee grinned.

"Shut up."

"It is your world, we shall fallow your lead," Vikin said.

"Smart entrance?"

"Smart entrance."

-.-

Cave

"And how are you coping with this Erica?" Canary asked looking at the girl who was fiddling with her ring.

"To tell the truth, not well," she sighed. "Sure I was the second to die, and that wasn't long after M'gann made us forget it was all fake, and was basically out through most of it, but when Artemis died. I felt awful, I couldn't believe that in those short moments that I lost all my family and one of my friends...and now that I know it's a simulation, I'm not sure what to think or feel."

"Erica, you're in shock, it's not surprising," Canary said. "I'm sure they'll think no less of you."

"But…"

Canary reached across and put a hand on her shoulder. "It's not your fault."

"I know…the others told me…"

"You seem worried?"

"How can I not be?" she sighed. "Anyways…there's something else…you promise you won't tell anyone?"

"Nothing said in here leaves this room," Canary confirmed.

"It's about what Kent Nelson told me before he died…"

-.-

"Norman!"

The group of thugs turned aiming their weapons as an older woman walked over with a jacket. "Mom!" one exclaimed as they lowered their guns. "What are you doing here?" The two guys behind him were zapped to the ground. "Mom get down! It's not…safe?" He said as the image of his mother faded away to reveal Dreamer.

Vikin used his magnetic abilities to use the gun to knock the guy out. Bumblebee, Bear, Superboy, Wolf, and Starburst jumped into the hole, landing on some of the guys down at the bottom. Bumblebee and Suerboy went ahead and checked around the corners as the rest hopped down. Putting a finger to their lips they ran inside.

"Well Ugly, the old creeps gear performed as advertised," a red-headed woman sneered.

"Yea Whisper, this gave me a bigger score than anything else in Intergang has," a man wearing a black and red box on his back.

"Wait!" Superboy whisper-yelled as Vikin strode past them towards the group.

"By the All-Spark, this idiot is going to get us all killed!"

"That drill and these carts are the property of New Genesis. You will return them, now!"

"Gold goes back too!" Superboy said.

"Interefere and things get ugly," Whisper snarled.

"I'm Ugly," the bulky man said as two straps came around the front and a cannon formed in the front. Several disks shot out and 'Bee yanked Superboy and Vikin out of the way, grabbing a disk and hurling it into one of the gang members. Seraphin pulled out his guns and shot down the rest.

More came at them, hitting the different team members as they fought to help each other. "These weapons aren't from New Genesis," Dreamer gasped. "They are from…the enemy."

"What enemy?"

"The enemy, the gods of anti-life, they are of Apocolypse," she shuddered.

"Why does that sound so slaggin' familiar?!" 'Bee said smacking his forehead on the wall.

-.-

Cave

"So you want me to believe that after everything you went through, including your own death by fiery explosion, you're peachy?" Canary said.

"I'm, uh, fairly certain I've never used the word peachy," Wally said tossing another piece of popcorn into his mouth. "But I think you have the idea."

"So you really have no interest in confronting your extreme reactions to Artemis' and Erica's deaths along with your outburst at Bumblebee?"

Wally sat up, chocking on a piece of popcorn in shock. "Well…what do you expect, Erica is my cousin, of course I'd react extremely over her death."

"And shouting at Bumblebee?"

"He didn't care. She was his best friend and he didn't care that she died! He just kept going with the mission! He outright told us it didn't matter who died as long as it got done!" he snapped. Looking at Canary he froze and put on a smile. "W-Well, enough about me, let's talk about you babe."

"Wally, you're in denial about so many things," she sighed.

"I can live with that."

-.-

Metropolis

Whisper lept forwards swinging her fiery whips which connected with Bumblebee's metal ones. "Let's dance," he smiled.

"Sorry, you're not my type," she snarled swinging at him again.

"The confines of the space favor their weapons, we must bring this out into the open!" Vikin declared. They made a retreat, Bear vaulting those that could not jump high enough to the top. "I have no wish to prolong this battle."

"You call it a battle, I call it a skirmish."

"Let's finish this," Ugly growled as the drill came up and they walked out of the hole.

"Fear not, she will protect us," Vikin said as Sphere flew overhead firing at them.

"Cool…wait, Sphere's a she?" Conner questioned and his partner just shrugged,

"It's time."

"For what?"

"Taru!" the New Genisians said and they tossed the motherbox up, merging together to become one battle…person…robot?

"Huh…you know, that's a first for me," 'Bee said.

It levitated over the quick-sinking mud and used lasers to vaporize the weapons they were using, before sending a sonic wave to blast them back. A boom tube opened and they retreated. "Wait!" Whisper called before Starburst wrapped around her. The being then made another tube that engulfed the drill, and they detatched.

"What was that?" Superboy asked.

"Infinity man," Dreamer informed. "We merged to become part of the source, and greater than the sum of our parts."

"Glad none of my teams are that close," 'Bee shivered.

"Lower beings fear intimacy," Bear said. "Well, not the Grand Cybertronians, it was your race ages ago that showed us the closeness of your families by the inticate bonds you share."

"You mean sparkbonds…sure they make us close, but they're just meant for marriage and family…not those…outside," 'Bee stated taking a small step away from them.

"Forgive us for our people's misinterpretation," Vikin apologized. "But the question remains, how are Earthlings getting our technology?"

They all looked at the red-headed woman restrained by a snake. "I'm not saying anything," she growled before flinching as Starburst hissed.

"You weren't asked," Dreamer said and a wisp of smoke came from the prisoner's head and the image of a man…who appeared to be extremely misshapen appeared.

"Well, that'll haunt me for the rest of my life."

"De'sod."

"You know, we've been incredibly patient, especially for me, so…What's going on?!" Superboy questioned.

"The gods come from two warring worlds, New Gensis hosts the gods of life, freedom, and source; our enemy, Apocolypse hosts the gods of anti-life, slavery, and degradation," Dreamer stated. "This is De'sod, god scientist and chief torturer of Apocolypse. His experiements are pure evil and works, abominations. His master…"

"Unspeakable," the image said laughing and disappearing.

"He is seriously creepy," the woman shivered.

-.-

Cave

"Hurting? Try traumatized," Robin said. "I finally become leader and I send all my friends to their deaths. I-I know I did what I had to, but I hated it. When the team started, I was desperate to be in charge, but not anymore. A-And that's not even the worst of it…you can't tell Batman."

"Nothing leaves this room," Canary said.

"I always wanted—expected to grow up and become him. And the hero bit, I'm still all in! But, that thing, the thing that drives him to sacrifice everything for the sake of the mission. I don't have it. I don't want to be the Batman anymore."

-.-

Airfeild

"Motherbox says we're close," Vikin said. "There's a large cache of Apocolyptian tehnology inside."

Superboy narrowed his eyes. "Got nothing on infrared."

"Remain cautious anyways, there's more than one way to hide one's presence," 'Bee informed before he and his pet vanished. "Keep yourselves hidden."

"Still no heat signatures," Superboy said as they walked inside and Dreamer dropped the illusion.

Then the light turned on. "Equipment blocks heat signatures, visor filters out illusions, we got you," Ugly smiled as the fight began.

Up in the rafters 'Bee sighed. Didn't he warn them to keep their guard up?

"These weapons resist my magnetic power," Vikin said. "It is time."

"This won't take long!" Bear called.

"Go!" Superboy said. Where the heck was that stupid scout?

As they combined, one of the men, split in half, revealing a robot with De'sod inside. "Now mortal, deliver the fatherbox," he said handing it to Ugly, who in turn tossed it into the group. Once Infinity Man appeared, he was red and black, not gold and blue.

"Uh oh."

"Kill the boy, and his little dog too," De'sod said.

"You did not just quote Scooby Doo incorrectly!" 'Bee said dropping down and landing on the scientist.

-.-

"It was all my fault. Hello Megan," she whispered, "who else could take a simple exercise and turn it into a nightmare that terrorizes everyone she cares about."

"You turned white," Canary noticed as the girl's skin tone changed.

"No!" she said shooting to her feet before sighing. "Oh, you mean caucasion. Yea, I'm fine being Megan, but I can't trust myself to use my other powers."

"M'gann, you're a Martian, you refusing to use your abilities is like me refusing to speak. Which I tried for a while after my first Canary Cry almost deafened my entire first grade class. So I get it, but not being yourself is never the answer. The feeling of guilt will go away; learned from what happened. Your uncle would be happy to train you. Just practice till you gain control and regain your confidence."

-.-

"Well this is fantastic," 'Bee growled pulling Superboy out of a plane.

"Can't you control it?!"

"They're not made of technology! They may look the part, but they're connected through…something. I'm not sure what, and I'm not sure I wanna know" he replied ripping off part of a wing and hurling it at Infinity Man, who used his eye lasers to vaporize it. "Think you can handle it for a moment?"

"Yea!"

"Good! Ratchet! Send my car to my coordinates!"

Picking up a small car, Superboy tossed it at the being who merely swatted it aside. Sticking his hand out, Infinity Man levitated a nearby plane, slamming it down on the Kryptonian several times before lifting it off and plucking Superboy's unconscious form off the ground.

"Infinity Man is now my…my Master's weapon," De'sod grinned.

"Why doesn't he get it over with already?" Ugly growled.

"I've never been one for getting it over with; fatherbox knows my proclivities," he replied. "Programming Infinity Man accordingly."

The sound of an engine came and they stepped out of the way as a camero sped past them, transforming and slamming into Infinity Man. Superboy fell to the ground, rubbing his head as he saw what looked like a clash ot titians, literally. Bumblebee lifted it and tossed Infinity Man towards the warehouse.

As he got up, Sphere rolled over and changed into…what looked like a massive beetle, locking onto Infinity Man's head and the colors changed back to normal.

"Attack! Attack while you still can!" De'sod snapped, he wasn't expecting an Ancient to intervene, nor was he expecting a way to reverse what was done to Infinity Man.

Starburst shot out of his hiding spot, landing squarely on De'sod's misshapen face making the mad scientist run as he tried to pull the snake off.

Part of Sphere stook up, handles shooting out as she beeped at them. "Sphere you're beautiful!" Conner declared hopping up and getting in the driver's seat.

"OPEN FIRE ALL WEAPONS!" Ugly shouted and 'Bee got in front of Superboy, his armor deflecting the shots.

"Our turn," Superboy grinned as he got a nod from his teammate. Shooting a beam out of the hand, the men were knocked back, as Bumblebee punched the ground, releasing an energon pulse that fried the equipment.

Transforming 'Bee sped towards De'sod as he got the massive snake off and opened a Boomtube. "Sorry young Ancient, but all will suffer!" he declared thowing a bomb and disappearing in the closing portal. Infinity Man shot the bomb mid-air, and the blast forced them to turn back to normal.

Starbust and Wolf went over to the fatherbox and began playing tug-o-war with it.

"She's hurt," Superboy said kneeling next to a broken Sphere.

"The damage may be beyond repair, but motherbox will try," Vikin said placing the box on the bike. The parts began to repair itself and she turned back into a ball. "The healing process has begun, and will be completed on New Genesis."

"Sorry, what?" Superboy growled.

"We thank both of you for your help, but we must take the New Genesphere home now," Dreamer stated.

"Who says she wants to?" 'Bee asked picking up his pet. "I've been around her long enough to know she has her own free will. So tell me, why make the choice for her?"

They flinched and Sphere beeped slowly. "Seems you are right, she does wish to remain," Vikin said.

Bumblebee nodded and walked to his car. With a wave, the car made a sharp spin and spun off into a groundbridge at the end of the runway.

"So why are you so respectful towards him?" Conner asked now his friend was gone.

"Cybertronians are one of the most ancient races there are," Vikin stated. "Ages ago, when our world was young, the Quintessons ruled the galaxy, enslaving the peoples of the worlds they took. Till one day, the reached Cybertron, a planet that was home to race as old as them, but more war-like in nature. They attempted to conquer and enslave them and they succeeded, for a short time. After they assassinated Quintus Prime, his son, Sentinel Prime, led a revolution, and easily forced them off their world, before spreading to the stars. They conquered and defeated the Quintessons easily, rapidly becoming an empire far bigger and stronger than its predecessor."

"The natives of these worlds were considered second-class citizens, but they were never treated as slaves. They were given protection from invaders, religion, and education, learning much under them. But while teaching these things, they never forced them upon us, allowing the people to choose for themselves. Our world was no different. Our abilities intrigued them, and they trained our people in there uses," Dreamer continued, "but then, the Rust Plague came and thousands of those in the colonies began dying. Unrest began to build with the Empire's grand capitol, and an order was issued for all Cybertronains to return to the planet. The worlds they left behind had gained much and were suddenly given the freedom by the Grand Council to govern themselves. Many cultures who refused to accept their religion, saw them instead as gods, which is why we know them as the Ancients, the gods of old. They were the only beings able to fight our oppressors."

"Wow," he said.

"Learn what you can, experience is wisdom," Bear said as they parted ways.

-.-

Cave

"What are you hoping to find?" Martian Manhunter asked as Batman examined Sphere. "Conner has already given its uses and Wally has already dubbed her: the Super Cycle."

"Despite the name, it still requires investigation, as does everything in Superboy's report," Batman replied. "Speaking of where is he now? And where is Bumblebee? He hasn't filed his report."

"I wouldn't be so sure," Arcee said holding a datapad.

-.-

"Here's the ugly truth: I wasn't devastated," he stated. "Even with Superman, Tornado, you, the whole League dead. Even though I didn't save Wolf, Moonknight, and Starburst. Watched Artemis, Emerald, Bumblebee, and Kaldur die. Abandoned M'gann…I felt…at peace. From the moment I first opened my eyes in that Cadmus pod there's been one thing I've wanted and feared: to know what it is to be Superman. And I knew, so…I was happy. Everyone I care about dead or traumatized and I'm happy. How do I get past the guilt of that? How do I live with myself?"

Canary reached over and put a hand on his shoulder. "I don't have any easy answers for that, but I know one thing for certain. Admitting it is the first step."

-.-

Autobot Base

Bumlebee sat quietly on the roof of the base staring up at the quiet night sky, remembering a past he'd rather leave back there.

"I thought I'd find you here," Erica said sitting on the ledge next to him. "How you doing?"

"Fantasctic. Nothing like watching people you care about get vaporized right in front of you. Not like I haven't seen it before."

Erica sighed. "It wasn't your fault."

"What? That I let my team die or that I went through with a plan that I knew would kill me so I wouldn't have to suffer the pain of watching my entire team get slaughtered in front of me again?!" he snapped. "…I abandoned them all because I couldn't take the pain."

"'Bee to be honest, I'm barely keeping myself from going and kicking their butts to Oa and back because they didn't think this could result in trauma…or trigger any already existing trauma," she said pulling him into a hug. When she didn't get a response, she hugged her best friend tighter. "You know, it's ok to show your real emotions, keeping them bottled up like this isn't healthy."

As she said that, he felt his emotional walls brake down and he began crying, releasing the pain he refused to let others see.

A/N: I feel like I could've done better on this chapter, but after rewriting it several times I just decided to stick with what I got. Hope y'all have a good week and please review.