On the Back of the Turtle 3
"My powers aren't based solely on sunlight," Xander replied. "This just weakens me to Superman levels of strength.
"You've got to be kidding me," Robin said wide eyed, but still leaping to attack.
"Nope," Xander said stepping forward and catching Robin's pole assisted high kick without effort and trying to gently toss him out of the ring, but even as he threw him Robin lashed out with his pole to catch the ground and absorb the force of the throw. The pop of his shoulder dislocating made Xander wince, but it did prevent his ring out.
"Don't count your chickens yet," Robin said as he climbed to his feet.
"I can't see how you could win at this point," Xander admitted. "I don't mean to put you down or anything, but while skill can make up for power there are limits. I will wait for you to put your shoulder back in place though, because I'm aiming for the water on my next throw, you've proven I can't go as easy on you as I'd like."
A pop and a wince from everyone watching marked the restart of the match as Robin took him at his word and launched a blindingly fast offense that actually forced Xander back a step or two as he was sprayed in the eyes with what felt like acid and was nailed in the balls and nose with Robin's staff almost simultaneously. Blinking tears from his eyes Xander snagged Robin's cape but it came away in his hands and Robin used the cover it provided to drop several gas pellets and slip on a gas mask. Rather than blunder about and take a chance on stepping out of the circle while blinded, Xander dug his feet deep into the sand and tried to use his hearing to compensate for the lack of sight and the dizziness caused by the gas.
Robin split his staff into twin clubs and went all out trying to drive Xander back, but had no success as Xander soaked up the damage like a sponge and caught Robin by the arm.
"That was impressive," Hippolyta said as Robin went flying over the bay.
"Robin!" Raven called out shooting off after him.
"That was impressive," Xander agreed as he stepped out of the circle and felt the sunlight pour into him clearing his head and vision. "Batman, the guy your daughter is interested in, is the one who taught him to fight like that."
"A skilled warrior," Hippolyta said thoughtfully.
"Refuses to kill or even seriously maim an opponent," Xander explained. "The skill level needed for an unenhanced mortal to fight on your daughter's level-"
*WHAM*
A red and blue blur slammed into Xander with the force of a freight train, knocking him back nearly thirty feet, but Xander recovered and matched the man of steel punch for punch quickly forcing him into the circle that was still lit up with the Titan's red sun filter. Despite training with Bruce, Superman went down almost instantly and Xander moved back into the yellow sunlight and scanned for more attackers, spotting Wonder Woman, looking homicidal as she landed on the beach. He didn't wait to see what she'd do as she was wearing the armor and carrying the sword she'd received from Hephaestus, which made her even more dangerous than she normally was. Moving as fast as he was capable of under a yellow sun he was little more than a blur as he stole Wonder Woman's lasso and tied and gagged her up with it.
"I wonder what's got her so upset?" Hippolyta asked concerned.
"Probably me enslaving you," Xander offered. "Usually I'd expect Superman to try and talk first and Diana to at least order me to stand down before breaking out the armor and going all out."
"She was never this active at home," Hippolyta complained. "I swear, growing up it practically required a declaration of war to get her to clean her room."
A shadow passed over the two as Batman glided in using his cape to land not five feet from the two where he drew himself up to his full height and gave off a very impressive glare.
"And that's the man who trained Robin," Xander told her as Raven returned with Robin.
"Really?" she muttered examining him closely.
Batman's hand vanished inside of his cape for a moment before flashing out with a blue gem that he flung at Xander.
Xander caught the gem and smiled widely. "And this is why he's much more dangerous than the rest of the League. None of them would have the foresight to keep a Kryptonite gem exposed to a Bizarro ray or connected my looks and abilities to being a Bizarro Kryptonian myself."
"That would explain a few things," Robin agreed.
"Bizarro?" Hippolyta questioned while moving her daughter to a more comfortable position.
"An attempt was made to duplicate Superman, but the duplicate was white skinned and…bizarre. It was like they'd made a copy of a copy over a thousand times to see what would happen," Xander explained.
"If he expected the gem to work, I'm expecting it to be more of a dimensional gradient error rather than simple cloning errors," the Amazon replied. Seeing everyone look at her she simply raised an eyebrow. "You have to know these things when you're a queen, you know?"
Xander grinned. "Now watch what happens when I expose Superman to it."
Superman lay unconscious in the circle of red sunlight dark bruises on his face, but as the tossed gem rolled closer to him, they rapidly faded and he came to.
"Definitely dimensional variance," Hippolyta said. "Simple errors do not have that effect."
"We were told you had been kidnapped," Batman spoke up. "Was that report in error?"
"Yes it was," Hippolyta replied. "It would be closer to the truth to say that myself and Artemis have been imprisoned for a crime she committed that also carries a burden of guilt on my part."
"And being topless?" Superman asked, slightly distracted by the unfamiliar feeling of strength he was experiencing while under red sunlight.
"Is there something wrong with my breasts?" Hippolyta asked Xander concerned.
"They come from a much more body modest society," Xander explained. "Your breasts are magnificent as always."
"Thank you," Hippolyta said.
"Slurpee?" Xander asked offering her one while making another for himself.
*0*0*0*0*0*0*0*0*0*
"You have some measure of skill as a craftsman," Artemis admitted as Cyborg fused and smoothed out a section of marble flooring.
"I like to work with my hands," Cyborg said before looking at his metallic appendages. "Such as they are."
"Is that why you are superior to other men?" Artemis asked confusedly.
"Pardon?"
"Is having…metal what makes it so you aren't under the control of your genitals?" she asked. "Or has that been replaced too?"
Seeing everyone staring at him Cyborg blushed and waved his arms. "Still got all original parts there."
"Then what has given you the control to not assault me, unlike your brethren?"
"It was an accident!" Beastboy groaned pulling on his pointed ears.
"I refer not just to you," Artemis said coldly. "I have seen men before. Paradise Island has had its fair share of lost ships and exploring vessels."
"They were not of the good?" Starfire asked.
"Thieves murderers and rapists," she replied, her eyes fixed on a decent memory.
"None of those were modern ships were they?" Cyborg asked.
"It was just eighty years ago we had a ship arrive and try to claim our land and put us all in chains," she said shortly.
"Eighty years!" Beastboy exclaimed.
"We don't live that long," Cyborg said. "Seventy five is the projected lifespan of most people. Anyway, in most civilized countries behavior like you're talking about is considered illegal and those involved are imprisoned."
"I have heard broadcasts from Man's World that says such crimes are committed daily!"
"You can't blame just one group for it. Trust me we get plenty of female offenders as well."
"My sister is such a one," Starfire admitted. "Thankfully we were able to apprehend Blackfire and she now is paying for her crimes."
"I…see," Artemis said thoughtfully.
"We're the Teen Titans," Beastboy said proudly. "We're on the streets every day fighting to put the bad guys and girls away!"
"Teens?" Artemis asked.
"I'm the only member over twenty years old," Cyborg admitted.
"You're all just children," she said in shock. "I-I mean I'd heard about the short lifespans of those in Man's World, but I…I didn't believe it."
"My people are much longer lived," Starfire said. "But I am not a local."
"So I gathered," Artemis said. "And you have all dedicated your limited lifespan to fighting evil?"
"Better to spend your life making a difference than sit around doing nothing," Beastboy replied.
"I…apologize for trying to make you eat your own liver," she said. "I had assumed you were a full grown adult and your assault was intentional."
"Um…thanks," Beastboy said unsure if he was being insulted.
"Now that we are done here, let of see if Robin and Raven have secured your release," Starfire said cheerfully.
"My release?" Artemis asked.
"We came here to rescue you," Cyborg explained. "Wonder Woman was a mite upset when she heard her mom was kidnapped and we were the closest at hand to take care of things until she could get here herself."
*0*0*0*0*0*0*0*0*0*
"Mhhp?" Wonder Woman asked unable to speak clearly.
Xander freed her mouth, being careful to keep his finger away from her teeth.
"Mother?" the hogtied Amazon asked concerned.
"I condoned a crime not even speaking out against it, though I knew it was wrong, just because of the gender of the victim," Hippolyta admitted as the rest of the Titans arrived with Artemis. "As a queen it is my responsibility to guide my people and set an example, for my voice is the voice of the Amazon nation itself. I failed my people and myself with my actions that day. I effectively declared war on an innocent party. Taking our laws and actions as a just response he had the right to kill us all, instead he simply imprisoned the two responsible here. We need no rescue for we are not unjustly imprisoned."
"But Robin won, right?" Beastboy asked hopefully.
"I…I lost," Robin admitted.
"Oh no!" Starfire exclaimed, hugging Robin to herself. "But I do not want to be without you!"
"I insisted on betting myself instead of him," Raven spoke up.
"There must be something we can do," Superman said.
"We could stage a breakout," Beastboy suggested half joking, "but I'm not seeing any bars."
"We're on the honor system," Xander replied.
"An Amazon's honor is stronger than any bars you could forge," Artemis said firmly as Batman untied Wonder Woman.
"And what do you have the prisoners do?" Superman asked wondering what their lives were like.
"No lying to me, no attacking me, try not to bug me," Xander replied. "Those are the only orders I've given. What they do is up to them. Normally I'd insist on them bringing nothing from the outside world in with them, but Raven may bring whatever she requires to help her deal with her status."
"Who are you?" Superman asked.
"A healed Bizarro clone of a child you didn't have who would have joined the Teen Titans," Xander replied. "Better grab your stuff Raven, it's almost sundown and how knows where we'll be by sunset."
"I'll go pack," Raven said flying off.
"I had a son?" Superman said in shock. "Who was the mother?"
"More of a two father situation," Xander replied. "Lex played god and mixed your DNA with his own. The resulting child took after you, but you were a complete prick about it for a while."
"And someone hit him with a Bizarro ray and sent you back in time?" Cyborg asked.
"No, my story is even more complicated," Xander replied. "There was magic and costumes and demons…anyway, like I said we are all on the honor system here, I'm not just the owner of the island I'm its first prisoner."
"What was your crime?" Batman asked.
"The destruction of countless demons who preyed on humanity," he replied. "I started as a normal human, but once I gained the power… I warred with the gods themselves to create a world where my friends didn't have to fear death by demon. Everyone above and below got kinda huffy and in exchange for the guarantee of five centuries of peace from the endless war for my people, I agreed to be exiled here."
"For how long?" Beastboy asked.
"The same amount of time my world is free of demons, I assume," Xander replied.
"That's like, forever!" Beastboy growled.
"And how long must my mother stay here?" Wonder Woman demanded.
"Until she feels she's served her time."
"Mother?" Wonder Woman asked, wanting her opinion.
"I'll have a better feel for how long my sentence is in a decade or so," Hippolyta replied.
"I can visit?" Wonder Woman asked/pleaded.
"The island moves about randomly, but sure," Xander replied. "The rules apply to visitors too though."
Wonder Woman nodded.
"Do you have to take Raven?" Beastboy begged as the members of the Justice League left.
"You're welcome to visit and I doubt she'll be more than a year and a half tops," Xander assured him. "It was a bet, not a life imprisonment, and traditionally such things last a year and a day."
"Then why did you suggest 18 months?" Robin asked.
"Because the island moves about, so getting back here may take a bit of time."
"She's a big part of our team," Cyborg pointed out.
"Artemis has my permission to take her place if she wishes it," Xander replied.
"I do not wish to see them shorthanded, but my place is by my queen's side," Artemis said quietly.
"The experience would be good for you," Hippolyta said. "I may be a queen, but I am still an Amazon, I need no servants. Go and follow Robin's commands as if they were my own. I failed you by not providing a better example, I won't fail you by letting this opportunity to learn from your mistakes pass you by."
"Yes, my queen."
"Princess Diana will have weapons and armor for her," Hippolyta told Robin. "And remind her that while I am absent from the island, it is her job to ensure it is running smoothly."
"Yes, your highness," Robin said, showing that Alfred's etiquette lessons weren't wasted.
Shortly only Hippolyta and Xander were on the beach.
"You have acknowledged your mistake and made amends," Xander said as they sat in silence. "You are no longer bound to stay here."
"Going back right now would be a disservice to my people," Hippolyta replied. "They need to know they can function in my absence and even if I have learned from my mistakes, as queen it is my duty to ensure they learn from them as well."
"Well said," Xander agreed. "Refill?"
"Yes, please."
The two sat and enjoyed the silence as they sipped their drinks.
"When I do return to my palace I am bringing one of these drink machines with me," she said aloud.
Typing by: The Last Primarch!