Chapter 34
A/N: I just own this story, none of the characters are mine!
/comm/
Telepathy
'Bee's modulator
Mt. Justice November 22
"Keep up slowpoke!" Wally taunted as he, Robin, Bumblebee, and Emerald played Mario Kart.
"You mean like this?" Erica sneered as she slammed Yoshi with a turtle shell.
"Hey!" he whined as his kart spun off course and off a cliff.
Robin laughed at his friend as he drove Mario past. "Maybe you shouldn't be so cocky Erica," he cackled as he smacked into her and sent his thunder cloud to her driving off as Princess Rosalina was electrocuted.
"DICK!" she screamed in anger as he laughed before all their karts froze and began crashing into each other. "WHAT?!"
"OH C'MON!"
"IT WASN'T ME!"
On the couch, 'Bee grinned as he finished the final lap and then released all of them.
"THAT'S CHEATING!"
"All's fair in love, war, and video games!"
"Emerald Lantern, Robin, Kid Flash, Bumblebee, Superboy, Miss Martian, report to mission room for briefing," Optimus called over the intercom.
-.-
"Rumaan Harjavti is the democratically-elected President of Qurac," Optimus said pulling up a news-clip of him shaking hands with Bruce Wayne. "He has been praised as a fair, wise leader, a humanitarian."
"Sure, any friend of Buce Wayne and Orion Pax," Wally whispered before Robin and Bumblebee elbowed him.
"But five days ago, Harjavti allied himself with the dicator of the neighboring nation of Bialya, Queen Bee."
"Not a fan," Conner muttered.
"Who is?"
"Harjavti is suddenly backing Queen Bee's baseless claim that Qurac and Bialya were one nation in ancient times," Optimus continued, "and has announced that the two countries will be reunifying in two days at a ceremony in Qurac."
Another video appeared and began to play. "After the ceremony, I will step down as president, so that our rightful monarch Queen Bee may rule."
It switched to a different clip, one of Queen Bee. "I applaud President Harjavti for unifying our peoples and I will gladly come to Qurac to be crowned sole leader of our nation."
"No way the Quracis are ok with this," Erica said.
"Hardly," Optimus said pulling up numerous protest images. "They're very aware of the brutatlity of Queen Bee's regime, but Harjavti is censoring the press, silencing legitimate protest and has invited the Bialyian military into his country to enforce martial law despite warnings from the UN."
"Queen Bee has to controlling Harjavti, doesn't she have the power to enthrall most men?" Robin asked.
Optimus nodded. "And some women, but not long distance. And there's confirmation that she hasn't left Bialya. There's something else going on, find out what. Aqualad is busy helping Aquaman, pick a team leader for the mission."
-.-
Qurac
"We'e right above the Quraci-Bialyan border," Robin informed.
"A border that the Bialyans are currently ignoring," Kid Flash informed. Looking out the windows they saw tanks driving over a barb-wire fence scaring a wildebeest herd.
"No opposition," Superboy muttered.
"Wouldn't expect any, this is an animal sanctuary," Emerald replied.
"The Logan Animal Sanctuary?" M'gann asked.
"You've heard of it?" Robin asked.
"Guys, tanks have caused a stampede," KF warned. "There's civilians in harms way."
"I see them. Woman and a small boy," Superboy confirmed.
"We have to help them!" Miss M exclaimed.
"We're way off mission here," Robin stated. "…Deploy, but stealth mode. If the Bialyans know we hit 'em this becomes an international incident."
Down below the tanks suddenly malfunctioned. The soldiers stopped when a bird-a-rang landed next to them and released smoke, allowing KF to go through and knock out the men.
Emerald flew in front of the woman and boy, making a shield to divert the stampede.
"Whoa…"
"Are you both alright?" Robin asked.
"Mom? Mom! Mom! We were just saved by Emerald Lantern, Robin, Kid Flash, and Bumblebee!" the boy exclaimed recognizing the four proteges.
"Superboy and Miss Martian helped too," Kid added as Conner walked up and M'gann flew down in camouflage mode before lowering her hood.
"We divereted the brainless wonders around the sanctuary, you should be safe now," Emerald grinned.
"Though I highly doubt they'll ever get those tanks working again."
"You may've made things worse," the woman answered. "Border crossings are a way of life here, usually they wreck a few fences and move on. Engaging them might've made us a target."
"Mom! Uncool!"
She sighed. "Sorry, I should thank you. This is my son Garflield, and I'm—"
"Marie Logan!" M'gann exclaimed. "I can't believe I'm actually meeting you in person! I've—uh—admired your stance on animal rights for years."
"You've only been on Earth six months," Conner remarked and she blushed in embarrassment.
"The oryx is sick and needs to go to our clinic," Ms. Logan stated.
"The boys can do that! You and I can fix your fences!" M'gann said.
"Hey!" Emerald snapped.
"And Emerald can help the guys!"
"Miss M, this isn't exactly…"
"Guys!/Please mom!" they begged.
"Fine."
"Yes!"
-.-
November 23
Emerald laughed as a monkey flew down from the tree onto her cousin, stealing his protein bar and hopping onto Garfield's shoulder. "Meet Monkey."
"Good name," Superboy grumbled. "But I hate monkeys."
The protein bar hit him in the face.
"And it looks like Monkey hates Superboys," 'Bee grinned.
"Just be glad it was only a protein bar he threw," Wally laughed.
Going inside, the young heroes sat down. "So, pretty weird about Miss Martian and my mom," Garfield said.
"What do you mean?" Robin asked.
"I mean she looks exactly like her, you know, but greener."
"Really?" KF asked.
"Yea, especially when Mom was a tv star on 'Hello Megan!'" he stated.
"Wait, that's a tv show?" Wally said
"I just thought that was something she said all the time," Robin commented.
"Yea, on the tv show, here, I'll show you," Gar said pulling out a VHS tape.
"What in the names of the Thirteen is that?"
"There was only one season, way before we were born, you can't even find it online," he continued.
"Seriously? What is that?"
"That my friend, is a VHS," Emerald clarified. "It's what was used to watch movies and shows before Netflix, Amazon, and DVDs were made."
Bumblebee just sat there staring at the ancient device, not that they could blame him, guy grew up around things so advanced that his reaction to old Earth tech was their's when they first encountered Cybertronain tech.
"So where's the 8-track?"
"What's an 8-track?"
"KF! That's enough confusing him for today!" Emerald snapped.
"You've never seen a VHS recorder before?" Garfield asked.
"Do holographic recordings count?"
"No."
"Then no, I have not."
Superboy stood up suddenly. "Aircraft, headed this way."
"Stay put," Robin ordered as they ran outside.
"What is it?" M'gann asked as she and Marie retruned from fixing the fences.
Emerald pointed and they saw the four drones flying towards the ranch. They began firing and Emerald made a shield, blocking the fire as it passed over them.
"Where's my son!?"
"I ordered him to stay inside," Robin said.
"He's eight! He doesn't do orders!" she snapped.
"MOM!" Garfeild called as he opened the barn, releasing the injured animals that were inside. "It's ok I got the animals out!"
The planes started firing again, some of the shots hitting the propane tanks next to the barn, making an explosion, sending the child flying.
Miss Martian flew over and caught the unconscious boy midair. Emerald flew past, making a sword, she sliced through two of the planes, when she turned to see the other two crash into each other.
Racing inside, they found Garfeild lying unconscious in bed, with an iv going into him and bandages wrapping his head. "He's in shock," Marie informed. "He needs an immediate blood transfusion, are any of you O-negative?"
"No."
"Sorry."
"My blood is toxic to humans."
"AB-positive, sorry."
"Neither am I, it's the hardest to match. I kept a supply in the clinic," she sighed.
"I can run him to the nearest hospital," KF offered.
"The nearest hospital his half and hour away at your top speed, only ten minutes shorter with Emerald's flight, and even longer by Bioship," Robin stated.
"He doesn't have that much time, what's Superboy's blood type?"
"He's Kryptonian, it wouldn't match. And Miss Martian—"
"Might be able to help," she said. "My shape-shifting occurs at the cellular level. I think I can morph my blood to match his."
"Please try."
"I'll need to concentrate, no distractions."
"Alright, everyone out," 'Bee ordered getting them out as Ms. Logan closed the door behind them.
Going to the living room, they sat down, taking in what just happened. "I can't believe this. Our actions put civilians in harm's way, we possibly just killed someone, and on top of this Harjavti steps down tomorrow," Robin ranted, "subjecting all of Qurac to this danger! Can someone turn on a news station?"
"Sure, which remote is it?" Wally asked pressing one. The tv turned on and music began playing.
Hello Megan!
School and boys and parents too!
Hold back the chuckle for miss you know who
Hello Megan
Hello Megan
This cheerleader knows the score
Center of attention and so much more
Hello Megan
Hello Megan
A little bit distractable
But never too retractactable
She's really quite attacrtable
Ok, a lot distractable
Eventually she'll get a clue
Hello Megan
The girl for me
The girl for you
Hello Megan
Hello Megan
The girl for me
The girl for you
Hello Megan
"Maybe it's a coincidence?" Superboy said.
Hello Megan
Hello Megan!
They stared as the intro ended and the show began playing.
"Mom, I'm going to the library to study!"
"But didn't you invite a certain someone to study here?"
The doorbell rang and the tv Megan smacked her forehead. "Hello Megan!"
"Yea, a coincidence," Emerald said with a huge grin.
She ran to the door and opened it to reveal a black-haired boy. "Conner!" tv Megan exclaimed hugging him. "I thought you'd never get here!"
"A total coincidence," 'Bee snickered as Superboy glared at him.
"It's done, all we can do now is wait," M'gann informed and Bumblebee quickly changed the channels onto a news station.
"My fellow Quracis…"
"That Harjavti?" she asked joining them.
"…Queen Bee's rule is a gift to Qurac…"
"Hey! That guy in back! The one in the hoodie! I know him," Superboy growled.
Robin pulled up the image on his glove and zoomed in on the hooded man. "It's Psimon, the psychic we fought last time we were in Bialya," Miss M stated.
"Well, he was working for Queen Butthead then, must be working for her now," Emerald growled.
"I still remember the headache from when he brain blasted us," Kid groaned.
"Speak for yourself peasants," Emerald grinned.
"You only avoided it because you were out of range!"
"We need to get Harjavti away from him."
"I think it worked, Garfield's stable," Ms. Logan said entering the room.
"Good, because we have our mission," Robin said.
"I'll stay just in case Queen Bee tries anything else," Emerald said.
"Got it, the rest of us will go," Robin said as they raced out to the Bioship.
-.-
Dhabar
Climbing through the vents, Robin lowered a scope down into the room they pinpointed Harjavti in. "He's alone," he said opening the vent, and they jumped down silently.
Going over, the Quraci President looked at them with glazed eyes. "Where's my daughter? Where's Psimon?"
"Forget him, let's get you outta here," Robin said.
The doors opened and soldiers wearing the Apocalyptian weapons 'Bee and Superboy dealt with earlier that year ran in.
"Well, well, American heroes," a familiar screechy voice sneered. Looking towards the main door they saw Starscream strut in with a man in a Bialyan uniform, "no doubt here to assassinate the President, such a shame that we made it too late to stop them."
"A shame indeed Commander."
"Those are Apocolyptian weapons," Superboy grumbled.
"Which they'll use to kill Harjavti, we take the blame, and Queen Bee gets to rule Qurac."
"Form up around the President."
"I found Psimon!" M'gann said.
"Wait!"
"I'll get her!" Conner said.
"No, you guys need to defend Harjavti, I'll handle Starscream, and try to find M'gann," Bumblebee stated.
"Got it."
Starscream was completely unprepared for the scout's attack that sent him flying through the wall, and the fight began.
-.-
Logan Animal Sanctuary
Emerald stood on the roof, watching for any possible threats, so far her scans hadn't picked up anything, but she had to be careful with the amount of power she used or she'd run out, it has been a couple days since she last charged her ring.
Hearing something, she flew up and saw the familiar blue glow of a groundbridge just at the edge of the property. Flying over she got into a battle stance, making a sword construct as Megatron walked out through the glowing vortex.
"Well, well, did your little sidekick friends leave you here all alone?" he asked with a smirk.
"Not at all buckethead, I just decided to hang back to just in case you showed your ugly mug," she retorted.
Growling, Megatron unleashed his blade, and lunged at the girl. Jumping back, Emerald leapt at him, intending to swing down on his head, when he parred her sword. Flying over, she ducked under several cannon shots, and made a shield which used used to slam into him.
Stabbing his blade into the ground, Megatron landed on his feet, creating small trenches from where his feet and blade drug through the dirt.
He rolled out of the way, as the Lantern flew at him again, grabbing her ankle he slammed her into the ground.
Seeing the sword coming down on her head, she rolled out of the way, making her own shield and sword construct as she prepared for another round.
"You certainly aren't as weak as those other pathetic copies," Megatron grinned, "but I wonder how much longer this battle will last? Your ring will run out of energy soon enough."
"And you'll run out of steam," she huffed.
"Perhaps, but I can fight for days on end, humans have such short sleep-wake cycles compared to Cybertronians," he grinned wickedly. "But then again, if I kill you, you'll never learn what's going on with your dear friend, the scout."
Emerald frowned. "What?"
"I'm sure you of all people know something's not quite right about him, how he lost his memory of what happened that Halloween night," he said smiling when he saw the look of horror on her face. "That's right, I know what he did, and what's going on with him; he and I did share a mindscape for some time. You could say I helped cause it." Emerald winced as he grabbed her wrists—she didn't even see him move—his red eyes bore into her. "And if you want to know what's going on, you're going to do exactly as I say. If you don't who's to say something else won't happen, or that little secret about your ring won't get out."
-.-
Dhabar
'Bee flipped back as Starscream attempted to gut him with his claws. Pulling out a sword, he blocked the seeker's claws, and used his gun to blast him back.
Getting to his feet, Starscream fired a missile, which 'Bee grabbed midair, and swung it back at the sender. Starscream cried out and ducked under the missile, which exploded on the hillside behind him. "Soundwave! Get me a bridge!"
The portal opened nearby and the Decepticon SIC ran towards it.
"Get back here you coward!" 'Bee challenged as he chased after. Swallowing his pride, Starscream ran through, the vortex closing behind him. Skidding to a stop, Bumblebee growled and put the blade back in his subspace. "The guys!" Racing back inside, he saw that Harjavti and his daughter were safe, meaning that the others left to help M'gann with Psimon.
He could see the mass of wind swirling around the dueling psychics, tossing papers, furniture, dirt, and some other objects throughout the room. Spotting his teammates, he ran over and knelt next to them, they were unconscious, most likely knocked out by Psimon. One by one, he began dragging his friends back from the fight, into another hall.
Just as he set Conner down, he heard a scream, racing back in he saw Psimon blasted back. the dust cleared showing M'gann…just not in the way he was used to, she was in her true Martian form, her white coloring contrasting from the green he was expecting.
"M'gann?"
The Martian girl turned back to the green, red-headed girl he was familiar with. "How much did you see?" she asked.
"Enough," he replied kneeling next to Psimon.
"You aren't going to tell the others are you?" she asked, obviously freaking out.
"About what? Your true Martian form, or the fact it looks like you just put Psimon into a catatonic state?" he asked corssing his arms. She looked down in shame, and he put a hand on her shoulder. "Hey, I'm ok with you telling the others about your real form when you're ready, but turning someone into a vegitable is crossing the line ok? Just promise me this was a one-time thing."
"It was I swear! It was the only way I could take him down!" she exclaimed.
"Alright, alright, c'mon, let's go to the others before they wake up," he said leading her to where he set them.
Just in time to, because they started regaining consciousness. "And there's the headache," Kid Flash moaned.
"What happened?" Robin asked.
"Psimon brain blasted you guys, I stopped him," she stated.
"What about Starscream?" Superboy asked.
"Coward fled halfway through the fight."
-.-
"What do you mean the President won't see me? He invited me!" Queen Bee exclaimed as she stood outside the Presidential manor.
"NOT ON MY OWN FREE WILL! NO! BUT NOW THAT I AM FREE OF YOU MINION'S THRALL, THE QURACI PEOPLE WILL NEVER SUFFER YOUR TYRANNICAL RULE!" Harjavti exclaimed and the people cheered.
"Mark my words Harjavti! Qurac will be mine!" she exclaimed storming off.
Going inside, M'gann turned back into herself. "Sorry you had to lie to everyone like that, but I couldn't think of any other way to show that Queen Bee was the one responsible," Robin apologized.
"Dude, saving a country, pretty big win for your first turn as leader," KF said.
"We didn't really establish a leader, it's mostly been bouncing between 'Bee and I," Robin said looking down.
-.-
Logan Animal Sanctuary
"I assure you that the Wayne Foundation and UN is here to do whatever it can to help you and your people rebuld Qurac," Bruce Wayne said as he and Orion Pax shook hands with President Harjavti.
Wally turned off the tv with a smirk. "Gee, I know why Orion got here so fast, but I wasn't expecting Bruce Wayne, it was almost like he—ow!" he winced rubbing his arm from where his cousin punched him.
"Don't you have a souvenir to collect or something?" she grumbled.
"Hello Megan," he said rushing over and grabbing the video before holding it in front of M'gann. "Something you want to tell us?"
Megan sighed and looked at all her teammates. "Growing up on Mars was not a happy time for me. but I started watching the broadcasts my uncle sent from Earth to teach us about our sister planet. And when I saw Hello Megan, something just clicked; maybe it was the similarities in our names, maybe it was how all Megan's problems could be solved in twenty-two minutes; all I know for sure is, Megan helped me get through a lonely childhood. So when I came to Earth, and had to pick a human form, I chose you…well, Megan."
"Which begs the question: what do you really look like?" Robin asked.
M'gann looked at 'Bee who just shrugged, but she noticed that both his and Emerald's eyes softened slightly. Standing up her hair vanished, leaving her bald.
"Bald M'gann, still hot," Kid said.
Conner got up and took her hand. "You don't have to put on a mask for me."
"I do it for me," she said bringing back her hair, "this is who I am, inside. Please don't be mad."
"Mad? I'm honored," Marie smiled. "M'gann you saved my son, he says he's you blood brother now, and I agree, you're family."
"Thank you," she said hugging her, "you can't know what that means to me."
-.-
M'gann walked towards Garfield's room, they were about to leave, and she wanted to say goodbye before they left. "Garfield?" she whispered just in case he was asleep before freezing in place. Lying next to him on the bed, was none other than Queen Bee.
"Shh, it would be a shame to wake him," she said stroking his head, "I might have to order my little thrall here to damage himself." M'gann's eyes turned green as she prepared to attack her. "Uh-uh, he already has orders to do that if anything happens to me. Now, your performance, a bit over the top I think, but then again, you haven't perfected me as you have the role of Megan." Getting up she walked over to the frozen girl. "That's right, Psimon isn't the only one who knows your true form, and if you don't cooperate, I'll make sure everyone knows what you really are."
